" A friend of yours?”

I shake my head but then nod. “I don’t know. I think so.” I tip my head in the direction of the office next door. “It was the guy, Gabe, from the waiting room. He pulled me into the boys’ room so the girls wouldn’t see me cry. Then he helped to sneak me out the visitors’ gate so I wouldn’t have to go back to class.”

Laura offers an empathetic smile. “What did it feel like to have someone care about your feelings?”

“I think it helped. My mom and sister have been trying to comfort me, but sometimes that makes me feel worse. They worry so much about me and I feel like I need to reassure them I’m going to be okay. I can’t just let it out.”

“With Gabe you can?”

“I guess. He helped me and then he made me laugh.” I feel my cheeks burn a little with embarrassment "

― Sarah White, Our broken pieces