Chapter 3

One of the girls had Nora by the hair, yanking hard. Nora's cheeks were swollen and red, and she looked completely disheveled.

"Keep staring and we'll gouge your eyes out!" The girls glared at me, threateningly.

I quietly washed my hands and left.

Then, I went over to the next building and told the grade supervisor in charge of discipline.

Since I was all alone, telling a teacher was really the only way to deal with school bullies.

But never in a million years did I think Nora would blame me for everything.

She even insisted I was the one behind it all, that I was the mastermind behind her bullying.

And Luke, who used to gaze at me with sparkling eyes and always said I danced beautifully, became the executioner who shattered my dreams.

*****

When I finally came to, three whole days had already passed.

My mom was sitting by my bedside, her eyes swollen from crying, while my dad looked like he'd aged a decade overnight.

The doctor said it was nothing short of a miracle that I survived.

With both my kneecaps shattered, it would be tough doing surgery or rehab in the future.

During the whole check-up, I just sat there on the bed, staring blankly, lost in a daze.

I had no clue what was happening. My mind felt dazed, like someone had hit the reset button.

No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't remember how I got hurt.

It felt like someone had forcefully torn those memories out of my head.

My mom said gently, "Isla, don't be sad.

"Your dad and I will do whatever it takes, even if it means losing everything, to make sure your legs recover, no matter the cost.

"As for the competition, missing it isn't the end of the world. If you're hurting and need to cry, just let it out. Don't keep it all bottled up inside."

My dad was right there, too, trying his best to comfort me.

I blinked, dazed.

It took me a moment to remember I had a dance competition before I passed out, but I couldn't remember if it was a big deal.

I clutched my head, breathing hard, but I couldn't remember a thing.

It felt like I'd been thrown into a pitch-black alley, clawing for a way out but totally lost.

I rolled around in the bed, crying in panic.

My parents freaked out and rushed to get the doctor.

Just as they opened the door, they bumped right into a group of people.

In front was Alice. She'd heard about my accident and came especially to check on me.

She said, "I was terrified when I heard what happened. How could something like this happen at school? Who could do such a thing? It's just outrageous!"

She was fuming. "This is straight-up bullying. We can't just let it slide. Seriously, what kind of parents raise kids like that?"

I caught onto that information, that I had gotten hurt at school. But who was the one who had saved me and got me to the hospital?

I racked my brain, desperate to recall anything, but my mind was a total blank.

Then I noticed a silver-haired boy standing behind Alice. His face went ghostly pale in an instant.

"Isla, don't worry. You and Luke are in the same class. If you ever need anything, just ask him for help," Alice said, giving my shoulder a reassuring pat.

She added, "Don't be shy about it. Back when you were little and someone picked on you, Luke was always the one who had your back. Just relax, okay?"

As she started reminiscing about childhood, the conversation shifted.

The atmosphere in the hospital room relaxed right away.

I was the only one sitting there, completely confused.

"Alice, what are you talking about?" I asked. "I have no idea who Luke is."

Under everyone's stunned stares, I pointed at the gloomy-looking boy standing behind Alice, a shy smile on my face. "It's Matthew who's always been by my side all these years."

*****

A short while later, the test results came back.

The doctor said there was a bruise at the back of my head, and that was probably why my memories were all scrambled.

When we got back to the hospital room, my parents told me that this whole time, it was actually Luke who'd been by my side, not Matthew Ashford.

Matthew was Luke's twin brother. After their parents split up, Matthew moved away with their dad and we hardly ever saw each other.

We only hung out together for a few years back in grade school.

"Isla, maybe Matthew and Luke look so much alike that you have confused them," my parents said softly.

I didn't believe them.

After all, every time I met Luke's eyes, it felt like someone was pounding my head with a hammer, and my knees felt like a thousand needles were stabbing into them, leaving me in agony.

It was as if the hatred I felt for Luke was etched into my bones.

"Get him out of here," I choked out. "I don't want to see him!"

I broke down, sobbing uncontrollably, my whole world collapsing around me.

My parents hadn't expected me to react so violently to Luke.

Helpless, they could only ask him to leave.

Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of Luke's face. He looked shocked, his face filled with disbelief.

But in the very next moment, Matthew stepped right in front of me, blocking my view of Luke.

"Isla," he said softly. His dark eyes locked onto mine, intense and unwavering.

All at once, I fell silent.