The black SUV rolled to a stop in front of Rivora High School. Rainwater shimmered across the pavement as students streamed through the front gates beneath umbrellas and raincoats. The school building stood tall against the grey monsoon sky, its red-brick walls damp from the morning rain. After nearly a month and a half of summer vacation, the campus buzzed with renewed energy. Laughter echoed through the corridors, old friends reunited after weeks apart, and teachers struggled to restore order among excited students. For most, it was simply the first day back. For Ruhaanika, it felt like stepping into a battlefield. The moment she stepped out of the car, she felt it. The stares- they weren't cruel, that almost made them worse. Some students glanced at her and quickly looked away. Others whispered to one another. A few offered sympathetic smiles that never reached their eyes. Everyone knew and remembered. In a town as small as Rivora, tragedies didn't remain private for long. Ruhaanika adjusted the strap of her bag and lowered her gaze. She wished she could disappear. Just for a few moments, long enough to escape the pity.