Framed by Her, Forsaken by Him

I could hear the voices of the poor students in class.

She tore up her competition essay and stuffed it into my desk to frame me, sobbing as she cried, “I know you always look down on poor students like me…”

Everyone turned on me, even my childhood sweetheart,Taylor Becker.

He demanded that I apologize.

I shook my head, crying, and told them it wasn’t me.

At the same time, I heard the inner voices of those same poor students: “I love this kind of childhood sweetheart drama. Nothing better than a rich idiot protecting his precious girl.”

ThenTaylor’s sharp words snapped me back to reality: “Will it kill you to just apologize?”

I laughed through my tears.

I hope you’ll still say that after you hear her thoughts.

So when my voice finally had a chance to be heard, I didn’t hesitate—I choseTaylor.

——

It all started during the big break. The class monitor Anna Connor’s competition essay went missing.

The whole classroom was torn apart in the search.

Eventually, it turned up on my desk—ripped to shreds.

She looked pale and hesitant, as if she had gathered all her courage just to ask, “Desiree Johnson, I never did anything to you. Why would you tear up my essay?”

I was still trying to figure out what was happening.

Then she added, “I know you look down on poor students like me, but you didn’t have to destroy my work. That essay could’ve won. The prize money is at least 3,000 dollars. That’s enough to cover my semester expenses and even help pay for my mom’s medicine.”

“It might just be a meal to you, but it means everything to me.”

Her voice broke.

“No one chooses where they’re born. I don’t steal, I don’t cheat—I work hard. I got into this school on merit. Why do I deserve this?”

“Is poverty a crime? Does it mean I’ll always be beneath people like you?”

The class exploded.

“Why does Desiree always act superior?”

“Just because her family has money? That’s no excuse to bully others.”

“If she’s so powerful, why doesn’t she mess with Lou Horton, the richest girl in Boston?”

...

The atmosphere was spiraling out of control.

I quickly said, “Anna, I’ve never looked down on you or anyone else. I didn’t take your essay, and I definitely didn’t tear it. There’s been some kind of misunderstanding!”

And then I heard Anna’s inner voice:

“Of course you don’t know. I’m the one who tore it and planted it in your desk.”

“Rich, brainless brats. What’s the point of being born into a rich family when you’re all so easy to play?”

From the first day she transferred to our class, I could hear her thoughts.

Now, with the truth ringing in my ears, my fists clenched and my jaw tightened.

I couldn’t believe it—she had staged the whole thing.

Tears rolled down her cheeks as she said hoarsely, “Are you trying to say I tore up my own essay and planted it in your desk?”

One of her close friends muttered, “So shameless. Everyone saw what happened. She still won’t admit it.”

She was good at pretending—really good.

My face burned with anger. I shouted, “Anna, you know better than anyone what really happened. Why are you the one crying? I should be crying!”

“Have I ever wronged you? Why would you frame me like this?”

Just then,Taylor pushed through the crowd.

He walked straight to her and put his arm around her shoulder.

The smile froze on my lips.

He comforted her silently, then looked up at me, his brows knit tightly.

Coldly, he said, “Desiree, enough.”