She Didn’t Fix Her Reputation. She Threw It Away. Chapter 19

She Didn’t Fix Her Reputation. She Threw It Away. Chapter 19

Here, my name was Claire Novak.

My life at Reed was a world away from my past.

The air here wasn’t thick with the constant tension of New York; it smelled of damp earth after a rain, and the dry, sweet scent of old books.

No one knew my history.

To everyone here, I was just a quiet, smart transfer student from the Midwest with a keen interest in environmental policy.

Zoe quickly became my best friend.

She was a whirlwind of energy, with a halo of messy red curls and a talent for making any room feel alive.

“Claire, come on! The library just got a new collection of archival materials on carbon capture. We have to be the first to get our hands on them!”

“Claire, we’re hiking the Columbia River Gorge this weekend. Don’t even think about telling me you have to write a paper.”

“Claire, you literally glow when you’re debating. That guy from the opposing team couldn’t take his eyes off you.”

She was direct, she was funny, and she was fiercely loyal.

She dragged me to study groups, introduced me to new friends, and slowly, gently, pulled me out of my shell.

I started to relax.

I started to believe that not everyone who approached me wanted something.

I started to believe that I deserved to be seen.