brokensilence137
The words felt foreign and strange in her ears: "I don't think this is working."
"Oh," was the only reply she could muster. She knew Anne was right. Of course she it wasn't working. But hearing it still made her stomach clench like she'd been kicked.
The statue stood, ominous and beautiful. Her nose had long since been chipped away -- by winds or daring vandals, it wasn't clear. She held a club in her outstretched fist and fire in her eyes. She was a figure of revolution, a call for justice at any costs. And she terrified the men who walked by her.
I don't need more proof that he did it. I know he did. I have proof. Nothing that would hold up under scrutiny, but it's enough for me. Is that wrong? Should I have some doubt? Should I assume his innocence until proven otherwise, beyond the shadow of a doubt?
It's a long and bumpy road. I know. I've been on it. I still am. It hurts. Every day I want a drink. Most minutes, actually. But I'm staying strong. And it has gotten a little easier. Well, the bumps are still in the road, but I can anticipate them better and avoid them. I see the trigger up ahead and I dodge the bullet. I wish it weren't so hard, but recovery isn't about ease. It's about determination.
"We can develop a stellar action plan for these students."
"I don't care about stellar. I care about affordable. I care about being able to keep this place open and that's only gonna happen if we can get the test scores up to snuff."
"We can't be teaching to the test. It's proven ineffective when you examine actual comprehension and retention."
"I know. My hands are tied."
The fence stood tall, a clear division between one side of the world and the other. She looked up at the sharp spokes high above her head. She couldn't climb that high, nor did she feel like impaling herself in any attempt to defy the limits of gravity and her weak-armed body. But she couldn't help but wonder what was on the other side anyway. Maybe it was something better. It had to be if it was so carefully guarded by that fence.