Page 73 of Braving the Valley

"Now I understand your frustration, Mr. Bardot," Headmistress says, clasping her hands on her desk in front of her, "but rest assured, we will not make the same mistake with your daughter going forward. From this day on, she will be placed on 24/7 watch within our isolation unit until a plan can be established to ensure this does not happen again. And, as a small token of our sincere apologies, we will waive the next one hundred and twenty days of your daughter's tuition. I think you will find that remuneration to equal a considerable amount."

"One hundred and twenty days?" my father remarks, and although it stops my heart currently digging through the core of the Earth, I feel the familiar rage inside of me rise again. My whole life has been boiled down to dollar signs—how much my father will spend and how much the administration will earn.

Anger bleeds from my father's ruddy cheeks, bringing them back to their normal color, as he slowly calms.

"Yes, of course," Headmistress says. "It's the least we can offer after such an unfortunate event. And, of course, Avery will continue to receive the best care money can buy including group therapy, individual therapy, medication management, and more. I think you'll find our head psychiatrist, Dr. Boucher, to be more than capable of helping your daughter."

"And she will be in 24/7 observation for the time being?"

"Yes," Headmistress nods. "Our isolation unit is impregnable. Never once in all my years has a student managed to escape it."

I watch as he considers it.

"Well, that is good," my father says, and my mother nods, playing the part of an agreeable wife.

What the fuck?

I should be happy I'll remain here with Gabe—Iamhappy—but I'm also pissed off because it always comes down to money, doesn't it? It's the question that got me taken out of so many reformatory schools before this one.

What am I paying you for?my father would ask.

The words are there, living on the tip of my tongue, but I can't actually say them, not when so much is at stake, not until the deal is solidified.

Headmistress pushes a document across her desk toward my parents.

"If you'll just sign here, we will transfer Avery shortly."

My father reads the document and signs the thing. My mother doesn't read it at all but follows suit. The deal is done. Headmistress reaches for the paper as my father leans over and squeezes my knee.

"We love you so much, sweet pea," he tells me. "Your mother and I just want you to get better."

"Of course," my mother echoes.

"Please," Headmistress stands, "let me show you the way out."

They stand, and I can take it anymore. I'm going to explode if I don't get it out.

"Are you delusional?" I murmur to the two of them as they walk toward the door.

"What?" my father turns, squinting at me.

"Are you delusional?" I repeat, looking at him and then at my mother. "You must be if you actually think showing up here makes you decent parents."

"Your father and I have flown a very long way, Avery . . ." my mother begins.

"And there it is," I cut her off, "the guilt trip. It's not enough that you ruined my life, is it?"

"Avery!" my father shouts at the same time Headmistress exclaims, "Mr. Bardot!"

I don't back down, though.

I'm worth more than that.

Gabe taught me that.

Let's burn the lies and the false pretenses all the way down to hell so we can finally see the truth.

"You should've protected me," I tell my father. "You should have protected me from her."

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