Emma walked angrily through the school's hallway. How dare that woman? She was shaking with anger. She took a few deep breaths, trying to calm her raging heart. She leaned her back against the wall.
The bell rang, signalling break time.
Emma smiled. She knew what she could do. She walked over to the school yard. She looked around, and smiled as she saw the person she was looking for. She walked over. "Johnny, could we talk?"
They walked away from the others.
"So," The boy said. "You came back."
Emma nodded. "I thought hard about it. And you're right. This is no place for you to live." Emma shook her head. "No way for anyone to live." She sighed. "I was wrong, and if you still want my help, you'll have it."
Johnny smiled. "Thanks, Emma."
"Have you tried going to the police?" Emma asked. They had walked over to a quiet place on the school yard.
"What could they do?" Johnny asked. "Besides, I tried the police. They didn't help me. Quite the opposite." He sighed. "All it did was cause me more trouble."
"What do you mean?"
"I got arrested, for indecent exposure."
"What? When?"
Johnny shrugged. "About a year ago. It's just how things are. Everyone feels that way. I mean, you're the first person I know who doesn't believe that." He smiled.
Emma grimaced. "I didn't realise people still thought like this."
"They don't think that way where you're from?"
Emma hesitated. "I suppose. I mean, some people do. I just don't tend to hang around them."
"What about your parents? Your birth parents, I mean."
Emma smiled sadly. "I'm not sure. I never knew them that well."
"I'm sorry." Johnny grimaced. "I didn't mean to bring up bad memories."
Emma shrugged. "That's okay. I just don't like to live in the past. I prefer to focus on the moment."
The duo was quiet for a moment, each lost in their own thought. "Are you sure about this?" Emma asked.
"Yes, I am."
"What about your friends and family?" She asked. She wanted him to understand what it would mean. "You'll miss them, trust me."
Johnny smiled softly. "I know I will. But I can't be what they want me to be." He sniffed. "They won't want me the way I am."
"Oh Johnny." Emma grabbed his hand and held it tight. "I accept you for who you are. And you are strong, and selfless. But you're right, you have been strong and selfless for too long." Emma sighed. "And I will help you, anyway I can, with whatever you want to do. I'll be here."
"Thank you, Emma." Johnny said. "You're my first real friend."
Emma smiled. She squeezed his hand.
Johnny blushed, and pulled his hand back. "When are we going to do it?"
"It can't be tonight." Emma said. "There are things I need to prepare. But I promise it'll be soon."
"Thank you." Johnny smiled. He hesitate before asking a question that has been on his mind for a while. "How do you know so much about all of this?"
"It's part of what I did, before." Emma smiled softly, remembering her friends. "Helping people like you, it's what I'm good at." She looked away. "It's all I've ever been good at."
Johnny smiled. "I hear you're not that bad at nursing, either."
"Yeah." Emma smiled. "I suspect that's just my parents humouring me, though."
"No." Johnny shook his head. "You're the perfect person to be a nurse."
Emma smiled shyly. "I guess we'll see."
The bell ran out, startling both of them. They quickly said goodbye, and Emma smiled as she watched Johnny walk away. He looked like a weight had lifted of him, and she was glad she played a small part in it. Consequences be damned.