Something about my conversation with Mr. Griffiths seemed to have lifted a load from my shoulders, and for the week that followed I felt less hopeless than I had before, in spite of the bullying. The fact that my teacher took the time to talk to me, to ask how I was, made me feel so much better than I would have thought. It was good to feel like someone was on my side for once, and not just in my head, either.
I passed Mr. Griffiths in the corridors several times, and each time he would meet my