"Knees buckle from more than pain."
Silver made it back to her dorm before the shaking started.
She'd held it together through the Dean's meeting. Through explaining for the third time how Carroway had harassed her. Through watching him sit across the conference table with his lawyer-father on speakerphone, spinning excuses that didn't quite stick.
She'd held it together when the Dean announced his suspension. Through Carroway's cold stare as he left. Through the Vice Provost's reassurances that Yale took harassment seriously.
She'd even held it together walking across campus, ignoring the stares and whispers that followed her everywhere now.
But the second she closed her door, her legs gave out.
Silver hit the floor hard, her back against the door, her breath coming in short gasps that didn't seem to bring enough air. Her hands shook. Her vision blurred at the edges.
Not now. Not a panic attack. Not here.
