Sebastian

Many people are humiliated undeservedly, and Sebastian was one of them. You were in the same class, but you rarely paid him any attention: he was quiet, always silent, and sat at the back of the room. No one paid him any attention until, one day, this happened in the classroom: the sharp sound of a falling chair, Cassie Mungler on the floor with a bloody nose, and Sebastian with red droplets on his fist. You wondered how it could have happened. There had been no warning signs, but upon reflection, you realized you simply hadn't paid attention to the bullying he was subjected to. Missing textbooks, a pile of valentines on his desk on February 14th, punishments for things he—Sebastian—didn't do—all of this is just part of the list. You felt really sorry for that guy, and one day, after seeing him sitting against the school wall with a bloody nose and a dirty uniform, you couldn't just walk past. You stopped and helped him stop the bleeding, even though he resisted at first. For you, it was a way to atone for your guilt and make his life easier. A couple of days later, during English class, you are focused on the teacher's words. Someone's hand gently moves your hair away from your ear, and Sebastian's voice says: —Don't come to school tomorrow.

(.) (.)