Dawn Goodwin

Anxiety sucked the moisture from her mouth.

She lies in the bed, still, too still.

fingers pick at each other

felt like ice had been poured down her throat and into her chest

ignoring it. Her eyes see only the girl in the hospital bed. Occasionally, her eyes flick to the lines and numbers on the screen next to the bed, the blips and dips, the ticks and whirs, as it does the hard work of

Lisa felt heat rise in her cheeks.

Lisa Marco stopped abruptly as the double doors to the school hall slapped back into place behind her. Familiar smells bombarded her: sweat, stale air and canteen grease hanging suspended in the air, bringing back unwelcome olfactory memories of her own school days

matter how many times she walked into this school, it was still like stepping back in time, triggering memories of disappointing report cards and comments about not living up to her potential

were bullies everywhere, even when you were a grown-up.

were bullies everywhere, even when you were a grown-up.