Page 69 of The Masks We Break

“How are you?” he asks, leaning against his podium.

We haven’t spoken about the bombshell he dropped on me last month, but my work environment is no longer hostile. He’s been overly kind and patient, reducing his communication with me to once a day, which is a huge deal.

I shrug. “It’s okay. I’m still coming to terms, kind of. I actually have a meeting here shortly.”

“Hmm.” His lips pull into a thin line as he absentmindedly scratches at the wood. “Remy, I’d like to apologize.”

If my name didn’t catch me off guard, his statement sure does. My eyebrows furrow as I take in his face. His lips are drawn down, and a soft sheen covers his eyes. My pulse picks up pace but I force myself to take a deep breath and nod.

“I was unjust in my treatment with you. When I met you freshman year, you reminded me so much of her, and when I saw you around campus, your nose was always stuck in a book. I thought maybe you’d be just like her and get involved with the school.”

His mention of my mother yanks at every cord in my heart. Only this time, it isn’t lined with guilt, but a bittersweet sadness. It’s the first time in my adult life I’ve been compared to her. To hear of something I did that reminded someone of her in a positive light. The feeling wraps around me, cradling me like a warm hug. I want to ask him more, to know more, but I bite into my lip and wait. There’s only so much I can handle at once.

“Then when I heard about the Solace Heir taking up medicine, and never seeing you at meetings, I figured you weren’t what I thought, and instead a reflection of your father. I took my resentment and distaste with him out on you. I don’t think any amount of words or excuses I use will be enough to suffice, but I wanted you to know I am truly sorry.”

Before I can think better of it, I embrace him, letting go of my own anger. It drains through my limbs and I feel lighter immediately. I’ve learned many things over the years, but I’m coming to learn it’s only true when speaking of academics. These past few months have brought me on a journey that has really come to transform who I am, and what life really is. So far, I’ve gathered that it’s too short to hold on to anger. You can either forgive and move forward, or forgive and let go, detaching yourself from whatever doesn’t propel you onward.

Today, I’m choosing to start over with Dr. Humphrey. “Thank you.”

I release him and back up a few steps, adjusting my frames. He swallows and wipes the small tear on the side of his cheek. “No, thank you.”

A smile ghosts across my lips as I lean to grab my bag off the floor. “I’ll talk to you soon.”

“You know you will,” he jokes and we both huff a small bit of laughter.

I’m halfway up the large room’s stairs before something hits me and I whirl around. I should have done this the day after it happened, but part of me wanted to forget and not start any trouble. But I know that’s not the right thing to do, and I don’t want to risk the chance of it happening to someone else. “Dr. Humphrey?”

His gray head rises, his eyebrows lifting.

“I had an incident with another student with multiple complaints filed against him. I’d like to bring it to the board’s attention and have him expelled.”

Dr.Humphrey's face grows solemn as he swallows, empathy creasing his features. “I’ll send you all the necessary documents and contact information now.”

“Thank you.”

I wave a quick goodbye and find Blaze in the front of the building. When he turns around and smiles, my chest blooms. It’s like the moment I ran into him everything started to change. Like a catalyst that made me look at my life and decide I needed to actually start living it.

And as I interlock my fingers in Blaze’s, I know that even if it doesn’t last, I’ll always be grateful to him for this.

* * *

What doyou do when you discover you’re the main character of a book? When all you’ve been dealt is a crappy hand, but then find out you’re the princess to a magical land? The books only talk about the excitement, bewilderment, and the relatively quick acclimation, but never the overwhelming sense of responsibility and desire to take flight.

And running away is all I can think about while sitting in front of the financial advisor, being told that my mother did the real world version of all that.

“Miss Solace, I understand this is a lot to take in, but that is why you have me, now.”

Mr. Ferguson’s words have been going in one ear and out the other since he told me the main gist of what I need to know. I have majority shares in the academy, and an account that was set up the day my mother found out she was pregnant, currently totaling thirty-six million dollars.

I try to focus on the man instead of what he’s saying, hoping that something tangible will help ground me to my chair.

He’s an older gentleman, and judging from his twenty-five-year reward for the company, I’d say around late forties. His blond hair is much too bright to be real, but his smile lines are genuine. There’s a photo of him with a woman and three girls on the beach, who I assume is his family. They all have different kinds of smiles on their face—some goofy, some soft, and some toothless, but each one authentic.

“You have a beautiful family.” The words come out thick, and it’s only then I feel the slight burn in my eyes.I’d give anything to have that.

Mr. Ferguson turns slightly, glancing at the photo briefly. “Thank you. It’s from a trip last summer to the Keys.”

My throat grows tighter.I’ve never been outside of Emerald Falls.“All girls, huh?”

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