Pāhonoa te oro

There were three of them—Dylan, Marcus, and Cole. I didn’t know them before that year. I don’t think I ever did anything to them either. I was just… there. Quiet, didn’t talk much, not really part of any group. That was enough. It started with comments. Then it turned into habits. Marcus would grab my bag and toss it across the classroom like it was a joke. Dylan had this thing where he’d wait until I sat down and then yank the chair back just enough to mess me up. Cole barely spoke, but he