I shuffle my feet, sitting on a small chair to what seems like an even smaller table. The room is loud with kids giggling and chattering while they color. I would usually be giggling with them—I work here as a volunteer—but today is not one of those days.

He stares at me his desk, watching my actions. Every blink, every tremble. To think those disgusting eyes watched me scream; to think they watched me bruised. I shiver when he finally looks away to talk with another volunteer. My fiancé, actually.

My fiancé doesn’t know. He doesn’t know what happened all those nights ago. I haven’t told him. I should, shouldn’t I?

**We don’t need this to get in the way of work. Do we, Mr. Griffin?**

“Mr. Griffa?”

I startle, looking up to see Lilly, a sweet little Hispanic girl with pigtails, staring at me with a sad smile on her face. Her stare warms me, unlike the man’s.

“Yes, Lilly?” I give her a smile.

“Why are you sad?” This catches the other kids ear at the table and they look up at me.

“Are you okay, Mr. Griffa?”

“I’ll make a good drawing just for you, Mr. Giraffe!”

“Mr. Giraffe? That’s not his name!”

“Yes it is.”

“NO! It’s not!”

“Yeah, it’s not!”

I chuckle, causing them to stop their argument. Jackson, another child, gives me an rock. I hold it in my hand, stroking the smooth marble surface with my thumb. “What’s this, Jackson?”

His eyelashes flutter and his face flushes. I forgot how shy he was. “It’s a rock I found last week. My mom said it was lucky and special. It…it reminded me of you, Mr. Griffin.”

I pause. Then a real smile stretches across my face. “Thank you, Jackson, I love this.”He fiddles with his fingers while the other children frown.

Lilly holds up a picture. “Here, Mr. Griffa! I made you something too!”

Another girl, Hadley, looks around for something before her eyes widening. She takes the green bow out from her pigtail, the hair falling flat in her head, and holds it out to me. “Here you go, Mr. Giraffe. This is very special too! Are you happy now?”

The other kids start to look around for stuff to give me. I laugh, bubbly and full, bringing the man and my fiancé’s attention to me. I freeze again, staring into the bright blue eyes of the man. My hands clench into fists; I look away, absentmindedly stroking the stone Jackson gave to me. It made me calm down, stroking that solid thing that could do nothing to me. It was just there. Just a rock.

My heart stutters back to normal and my face smooths out once more.

It’s just a rock.

***

**Extra Because I’m Not Doing My School Work And A lot Of People Didn’t Come To School Today**

“Griffin?” Collins yawns, his arm wrapping around me to pull me closer, chest to chest.

My eyes are already closed, and I don’t plan on opening them. I tuck myself against the soft cotton of his shirt, inhaling his scent: fresh soap, a clinical smell. “Mhh?”

“Are you alright?”A simple question, an innocent question, but it makes me tense up nonetheless. Collins feels it and works his hand against my shoulder. “You know you can tell me anything that’s bugging you.” He pauses. “Except if you’re cheating on me.”

I shake my head, smiling, though he obviously can’t see that. “Nothing like that.”

His hand starts moving again. “Good. Well then, what is it?”

“It doesn’t matter anymore.” It doesn’t. I just have to make sure it doesn’t happen again. I will never forget it though. That horrible night.

Collins pats my back and quiets. “Ok. What’s with the rock.”

“Oh that?” I hug him.

“That’s my special rock.”