Flora’s Guide to a Second Chance at Love and Life

Patricia kept thinking—maybe if she just left school, everything would finally be over.

A wild, reckless thought flickered through her mind.

She lifted her head, glanced at Ms. Brewer's back, and for a split second, she imagined pushing her down the stairs. If she could pull it off, she could run out while everyone was distracted, and nobody would ever find her.

Her heart pounding, Patricia made up her mind and reached out.

But before she could do anything, Ms. Brewer suddenly shifted to the side and stopped, turning to look straight at her.

"I just don't get it," Ms. Brewer said, her voice calm but stern. "What do you have against Amy? Why go this far?"

Ms. Brewer barely finished her sentence before Patricia lunged forward. But with Ms. Brewer's quick move, Patricia lost her balance. Her momentum carried her forward, and she tumbled headfirst down the stairs. Her scream echoed through the hallway.

She hit the bottom and everything went black. If it weren't for the security cameras in the stairwell, Ms. Brewer would have had a tough time explaining what happened.

so loud, Amy's parents hadn't even left the school yet. They got

Lucy saw the blood on her daughter's

just as shaken, fear written all over his face. But instead of demanding answers for Amy, his first instinct was to question the other

gave the

Bentley was stunned.

about Amy

than she let on, just pretending to be fragile. Part of him even wondered if Grace's death had something to do with Amy—she'd seemed way too

talking to everyone, the truth was obvious: from the moment

ease. Looking at Amy, so small and pale on the hospital bed, he felt a pang of guilt. She

he finally asked

said gently. "But what worries me is her long-term malnutrition. If she'd

The word hit Lucy like a