"Hey Sydney, what happened?" I heard a gentle voice ask as a hand touched mine.
Looking up through my tears, I saw Chris, and for a moment, he seemed stunned by my appearance.
"Oh my god! You look horrible," he exclaimed, his concern evident in his voice.
"Chris," I managed to stutter out.
"It's okay, I'm here," he reassured me, pulling me gently into a hug.
"I'm tired of this school, Chris. I think I have to quit," I confided in his embrace, the weight of everything finally overwhelming me as I continued to cry.
"No, you can't quit," Chris exclaimed almost immediately, his voice filled with urgency.
I pulled out of his embrace, surprised by his sudden outburst.
"I mean," he faltered, his tone softer now. "You can't give up. You don't want everyone to think you are weak, especially not Rex," he continued, his words filled with urgency.
"But I can't take it anymore," I cried, feeling overwhelmed by everything.