Alicia’s POV

The recess was almost over.

In a few minutes, the judge would walk back in. He would read a few sentences aloud, and that would be it.

My fate would be sealed in a voice colder than any painting I had ever put on canvas.

I stayed hunched forward on the bench, my knees pressed together so tightly they ached. Kayla sat beside me, his hand moving in slow, steady circles over my back.

She kept whispering, “Don’t worry. We are in this ...