They Wrapped Me Like A Mummy To Make Her Smile Chapter 05

They Wrapped Me Like A Mummy To Make Her Smile Chapter 05

Early the next morning, I went to the Brookhaven School District Office.

I asked about transferring schools.

The staff member who met with me was a middle-aged woman with glasses. She looked kind.

“Transferring this late in the school year isn’t easy,” she said gently. “Unless there’s a serious reason.”

She closed the folder in front of her and looked at me carefully.

“I… I’ve been bullied at school.”

My voice was barely audible.

Saying those words took everything I had.

Her expression sharpened instantly.

“Do you have proof?”

“If this is true, we’ll handle it properly.”

I opened my phone.

The videos were still there.

Every single one felt like reliving a nightmare.

Watching them again was like reopening a wound.

But now, they were evidence.

She watched in silence, her face growing darker by the second.

“This is unacceptable.”

She stood up abruptly, anger flashing in her eyes.

“This crosses a serious line. Have you reported this to the police?”

I shook my head.

The police?

Let everyone know?

Make it bigger than it already was?

Have Ryan face consequences?

I… couldn’t do it.

“Why not?” she pressed, frustration in her tone. “You need to protect yourself. They should be held accountable.”

“I just want to transfer,” I said quietly, staring at the floor.

“I just want to leave.”

I didn’t want revenge.

I didn’t want justice.

I just wanted distance.

She exhaled slowly. “Where are you hoping to transfer?”

Her voice softened.

“Silverwood Prep.”

It was the top private high school in the neighboring city.

My aunt taught there.

She had asked me before if I wanted to move.

Their honors program had an open spot.

With my grades, getting in wouldn’t have been an issue.

I’d refused.

I hadn’t wanted to leave home.

I hadn’t wanted to leave Ryan.

Now the memory felt ridiculous.

I had treated him like my whole world.

He had treated me like something disposable.

Fortunately, the staff moved quickly.

She clearly sympathized.

By that afternoon, most of the paperwork was complete.

I could start as soon as Monday.

“Thank you,” I said, bowing my head slightly.

“Listen,” she added before I left, “a new environment means a fresh start. Forget what happened. You deserve better.”

My eyes burned again.

Kindness from a stranger hurt more than cruelty from someone familiar.

Outside, the sunlight felt too bright.

I took a deep breath.

A new beginning was coming.

Emma, be brave.

On Monday, I left home like usual, backpack over my shoulder.

“Be careful on the way,” Mom called. “And come home early. Ryan’s mom mentioned having dinner together tonight.”

“Okay,” I lied.

I hadn’t told them about the transfer.

I didn’t want them to worry.

Or try to stop me.

I’d explain once everything was settled.

At school, everything looked normal.

Except for the looks.

The whispers.

“Oh look, here she comes.”

“Feeling better today?”

Soft laughter followed.

I kept my face blank and walked to my seat.

Let them talk.

It was my last day.

Ryan was already there.

He turned around in his chair.

“Still mad?”

His tone was coaxing, but there was something entitled in his eyes—like my anger was just childish drama.

“I got tickets to the amusement park. We can go after school.”

“And I brought your favorite strawberry cheesecake. You’ll forget all about it once you eat some.”

I didn’t respond.

I took out my books and began packing my things.

Everything that belonged to me went into my bag.

Pens. Notebooks. Even small scraps.

Nothing stayed behind.

He frowned.

“Emma, that’s enough.”

Impatience crept into his voice.

“I already apologized. What more do you want?”

“It was just a joke. You’re acting like it was the end of the world.”

I kept packing.

Chloe walked in just then.

She paused when she saw us, then smiled sweetly.

“Morning, Ryan.”

Her voice was syrupy.

Then she turned to me.

“Emma… are you okay? I’m really sorry about what happened.”

She bit her lip, looking fragile.

“I didn’t think it would go that far. I just said something offhandedly…”

“I’m fine,” I cut in.

I didn’t want her apology.

Didn’t want to waste another second on it.

Ryan immediately stepped in.

“Chloe already said sorry. Let it go.”

“She didn’t mean anything by it. You know she’s naive. She doesn’t think before she speaks.”

Naive?

I almost laughed.

Chloe was anything but naive.

But Ryan believed every word she said.

“I’m going to the restroom,” I said, standing up.

I needed air.

Needed distance.

Before I said something I couldn’t take back.

In the mirror, I barely recognized myself.

Pale.

Dark circles under my eyes.

I hadn’t slept.

In my dreams, I was still on display.

Everyone laughing.

Ryan laughing the loudest.

I’d woken up with tear-soaked sheets.

I splashed cold water on my face.

Just one more day.

Tomorrow, you’ll be free.

When I returned to the classroom, Ryan and Chloe were sitting close together.

She was in my seat.

He was leaning in, explaining a math problem to her patiently.

Their shoulders nearly touched.

I stood at the door for a moment.

He used to tutor me too.

But when it was me, he’d get frustrated.

“Emma, how do you not get this?”

“It’s basic.”

With Chloe, his voice was gentle.

“It’s okay. Take your time.”

“There’s a trick here—see?”

The difference between liking someone and not liking them was that obvious.

When the bell rang, I moved to an empty seat in the back row.

I didn’t want to sit near them anymore.

The teacher asked why I’d changed seats.

“I’ve been having trouble seeing the board,” I said.

The truth was, I was just tired.

Tired of being close to something that hurt.

At lunch, I went to the school store.

I bought snacks I normally wouldn’t.

The cashier smiled. “Celebrating something?”

“Yeah,” I said.

“I guess you could say that.”

Because I was about to be free.

About to leave this suffocating place behind.

During the last class of the day, I packed everything.

Textbooks.

Supplies.

Even the trash in my desk.

I wanted to leave nothing behind.

Ryan noticed.

“Why are you packing like that?”

“You’re not coming tomorrow or something?”

He laughed lightly.

It was meant as a joke.

But it landed too close to the truth.

I looked at him.

There were so many questions in that look.

What did all those years mean to you?

Did you ever truly care?

If you could go back, would you still choose to hurt me?

But I didn’t ask.

What was the point?

I already knew the answers.

The final bell rang.

I slung my backpack over my shoulder and gave the classroom one last look.

Many memories.

Some warm.

Some painful.

But none of them belonged to me anymore.

And this time, I didn’t look back.