Shock as a peaceful world shatters at noon
Pain. That was what surged through Jessica's veins now. Just a few hours ago, her world had been in order. Then she received a call from the school nurse, and her world lost all meaning.
Now Jessica sat at her unconscious son's bedside in the intensive care unit, stroking his hand. Tears streamed down her face, and she sobbed as she listened to the police officer's account. Someone would pay for this, she swore to herself, as her pain turned into boundless rage.
A Fresh Start
The move to Carthage, Missouri was meant to be a fresh start for her and her fourteen-year-old son. After a year of endless troubles culminating in a terrible divorce, she just wanted a clean slate.
Everything was going great until she received the call from the principal. From his tone, she knew something had gone terribly wrong. By the time she reached the school, her heart would be shattered.
Her Dreams
Jessica Hayes was tired of being pushed around by life. She had always imagined that by the age of thirty, she would have a big, happy, and stable family.
After being together with her high school sweetheart during college, she married him and had a beautiful son named Cody. But her wonderful family life would come to an abrupt end.
A Year of Pain and Regret
Jessica only found out about her husband's infidelity when it was too late. A year of pain and regret followed, ending with their divorce. With no family nearby to rely on, Jessica decided to move to Carthage.
The move was chaotic, and the single mother felt like giving up a dozen times. But when she saw the radiant smile on Cody's face, she pushed forward. It seemed she wasn't the only one craving a fresh start.
Settling In
The mother and son settled into a small, cozy apartment in a safe neighborhood. Jessica started exploring the city in search of work, hoping they wouldn't have to live off their savings for the rest of the year.
With her experience as a hairstylist, she reached out to different salons, handing them her resume. It wouldn't be long before she received a call for an interview.
Cody Hayes
Cody always wanted the best for his mother. He was the one who discovered his father's infidelity. Although he didn't want his parents to get divorced, he knew it would be unfair not to tell his mother.
His father was not good to her. He would come home drunk, start fights, and break things in her room. Just like his mother, Cody had to escape. Carthage promised the peace he had been searching for in the past months.
Peace and Quiet
In his neighborhood, there was a tranquility he had never experienced before, a more vibrant palette that his previous community lacked. His mother seemed especially happy.
Of course, Cody could still feel her sadness. He hated that she still felt pain even after they had moved. It hurt him too. But all of that would soon come to an end.
The Complete School Experience
The high school his mother enrolled him in was great. No child ridiculed him because of his father's unsavory activities, and no teacher forced him into impromptu therapy sessions.
As a new kid on the block, Cody had the choice of his new friends and made sure he had people who helped him forget his past. There was nowhere to go but up.
A Good Experience
The first few weeks at school were perfect. Cody, who had struggled with academics at his previous school, was finally succeeding academically. The classes were enjoyable, the students were welcoming and friendly, and the teachers were informative and helpful. But all of that seemed to disappear when the new substitute teacher walked in.
As Cody heard at school, his biology teacher had just gone on maternity leave, which meant the school would be hiring a replacement. Sure enough, a new teacher walked into the next biology class and introduced herself as Ms. Davids, the new biology substitute. But she didn't look like the typical teacher Cody was used to.
His Mother's Teachings
Cody was never one to judge people based on their appearance or first impression. He understood that it took multiple interactions to truly get to know someone.
His mother had taught him this, and he had followed that advice for fourteen years. But after his first interaction with Ms. Davids, he found it hard not to make a judgment.
A Different Teaching Style
The teacher seemed too preoccupied with herself, asking a student to read a passage from a textbook while she retreated to her phone.
She looked a few years younger than Cody's mother, wearing jeans, a biker jacket, and chewing gum in class. She snapped her fingers at students and didn't bother to learn any of their names. But that was just the beginning.
Her Views
Ms. Davids' views didn't seem to align with her role as a substitute biology teacher. To say she knew anything about the subject would be an overstatement.
Because instead of teaching biology, Ms. Davids went on a twenty-minute rant about the country's political climate. But that wasn't even the worst part about this teacher. What she did to Cody couldn't be easily excused like her teaching style.
Any Biology?
For the rest of the class period, she handed out quiz questions on topics the class hadn't even covered yet. The teacher then went back to her phone, leaving Cody and his classmates puzzled.
The rest of the week, biology class followed the same pattern. Ms. Davids would come in, discuss her political views, and give the students quiz questions on topics they knew absolutely nothing about.
Something Different?
Then one day, Ms. Davids decided to do something new. She divided the students into groups. Cody was excited, thinking they would finally have a fun lesson. But that wasn't the case.
Instead of trying a new approach, she simply handed out more quizzes before scrolling through her phone and even FaceTiming some of her friends. It couldn't get any worse.
It's Working
Despite his experience with Ms. Davids, Cody was enjoying his time in Carthage. His mother took him to the movies on Saturdays, and they played video games on Sundays. For the first time since the divorce, things were looking up, and Cody liked that.
There was a certain look in his mother's eyes lately. Something that told him everything would be alright. He could see the pain in her eyes subsiding. She seemed less worried lately, and he was here for it.
Feeling Better
It was a comforting thought to know that her life was getting back on track. But Cody was unaware that something tragic was about to happen. He had no idea how much sorrow would hit his mother.
There were only a few things that truly mattered to Cody, and at the top of that list was his mother. He would do anything to see her smile. After all, he just wanted her to be happy.
A Few Things
He had witnessed her traumatic marriage and saw it as his responsibility to help her forget her pain. But could he protect her from the pain his suffering would cause?
The second item on his list was his new school, which had brought him friends and actively helped him deal with his past. Many of his wounds had healed since attending this school. But recently, things hadn't been the same. There was definitely a problem with Ms. Davids, and Cody didn't like it. But what could he do? She would be gone soon. But before she left, she would focus her attention on poor Cody.
A Simple Request
It all started with Cody whispering something to his best friend Tim during class. Cody had a simple question for his friend. He had no idea it would cause a lot of trouble.
Unfortunately, things spiraled out of control, and in the end, Cody had to pay the price for his disobedience. It happened in the second-to-last period of the day. And Cody wouldn't have done anything if he had a different choice.
Second-to-last Period
But unfortunately, he felt the urge to follow his instincts, and that didn't sit well with Ms. Davids. She hated when her commands weren't obeyed, and she would make sure everyone knew about it.
Cody had missed lunch because he was studying for an English quiz. He wouldn't have thought twice, but he saw his friend eating a muffin hidden under his desk.
Just a Bite
Cody was starving, so he called his friend and asked if he could have something to eat. He had no idea that his request would put him in a life-threatening situation.
The request was harmless, and Cody made sure to keep his voice low so as not to disturb the class or distract Ms. Davids from her phone. His stomach growled as he tried to convince his friend to share his snack with him.
Offensive
For someone who apparently didn't care about the well-being of her students, Ms. Davids was offended when the two students talked and ate during class.
She snatched the muffin from Tim's hands and crushed it spitefully in her fist. But that was just the beginning of her action. Things were about to get much worse, something unworthy of a teacher.
Stand up!
"Stand up!" Ms. Davids barked, hitting the desk with her hand. Cody jumped up, not knowing what else to do, but his friend Tim didn't.
He should have known it wouldn't end well, but it seemed like the boy felt brave. If only he knew the consequences his actions would have. "I said, stand up," Ms. Davids growled, taking the gum out of her mouth and sticking it into Tim's hair.
Go to the Front
The class gasped as she rubbed it into his hair, making sure it reached his scalp through the curls. But if they thought that was the end of her tirade, they were in for a big surprise.
It was a shocking sight, especially for a group of young children who looked up to their teachers for guidance and help. It was clear that everyone in the class was scared of what they had seen. But it was far from the end. The next step Ms. Davids would take would be much more extreme.
Terrified
"You," the substitute teacher said, pointing at Cody. Her eyes now gleamed so menacingly that the fourteen-year-old took a trembling step back out of fear. "Go to the front."
Cody was more than scared. He had witnessed Ms. Davids do a lot during her time as a substitute teacher. But what she had done on that day went too far. Unfortunately, it would only get worse.
Making noise is illegal
Cody walked silently to the front of the classroom. After witnessing what Ms. Davids had done to Tim's hair, he knew his punishment would be frightening.
"Why did you make noise when I explicitly asked the class to focus on the quiz?" Ms. Davids asked. Cody swallowed the lump that had formed in his throat.
A little hungry
"I was a little hungry," Cody stammered. "I haven't eaten anything since this morning. I just wanted a small bite of his muffin." He had never felt so ashamed in his life.
Ms. Davids stared at Cody with blue eyes. "Eating in class is not allowed," she said in a soft voice. She approached the teenager, forcing him to take another step back. Ms. Davids walked past Cody and reached into her handbag.
Eat this!
She reached in and pulled out a granola bar. "Eat this," she said, half-threatening, half-caring. Upon seeing the snack in her hand, Cody turned pale. It was a generous offer, but he could never accept it. If he did, he would be signing his own death warrant.
Cody took another step back, raising his arms. His voice trembled slightly as he whispered, "I can't." In that moment, Ms. Davids' expression changed. She frowned as her gaze darted between the boy and the granola bar she held in her hand. What was she thinking? Would she accept his reasoning and move on?
I insist
"What?" The slight concern that had been in Ms. Davids' voice had nearly disappeared. "You're going to eat it now," she declared, before pressing the bar into Cody's hand. "Eat it!"
"I can't, Miss," Cody replied. "I'm allergic to nuts." A muscle twitched in Ms. Davids' jaw. She approached him. This was going to cause the authorities to swarm onto the school grounds.
Forcing him
Ms. David yanked the bar from Cody's hand and tore it open. The class was now silent. They watched attentively as she broke the bar in half and handed one half to Cody.
"You're going to eat this, or I swear, I'll make your life difficult," she hissed before sitting on her desk. Her gaze burned into Cody. It was as if she was challenging him to defy her.
Should he eat the bar?
Cody looked at the granola bar in his hand. He knew that eating it would end badly for him. But he couldn't afford to get in trouble with the school. For a boy his age, it was a difficult decision.
But eating this bar would come with risks, he knew that all too well. However, there was always a way out of an allergic reaction. And it was in his backpack. Would it be enough?
Thinking it through
Cody could use his EpiPen to inject the antidote into his body after consuming the bar, and everything would normalize again. At least, that's what he thought. With that thought in the back of his mind, he took a deep breath and prepared for what he would feel.
He took a small bite, hoping to satisfy the substitute teacher. But it wasn't enough for her. Ms. Davids gestured for him to take another bite and encouraged him to keep eating.
Pressuring him
Cody could already feel the first signs as the effects kicked in, but his teacher didn't relent. She was about to give him the second half when something terrible happened.
It was unlike anything he had ever felt before. And that's when he realized just how severe the situation truly was. A hot, painful sensation burned inside Cody, eliciting a groan from him.