Rachel’s POV
“Why did he say that?” I found myself musing aloud to Bea, who was meticulously packing her things for the upcoming field trip. The room was filled with her vibrant excitement, her chatter about the trip bubbling over like soda fizzing in a glass, so full of life that it felt almost surreal against the backdrop of the confusion swirling relentlessly in my mind. Alfred’s cryptic words had ignited a storm of thoughts I couldn't shake—each one more perplexing than the last. As Bea darted around, her enthusiasm was like a lifeline thrown into rough waters, a comforting presence that created a shield against my own turbulent emotions. She had, with remarkable ingenuity, fabricated a narrative about my illness in order to persuade the principal to let her accompany me on this trip.
