After everyone left, the classroom was empty except for the three of them.
The professor had packed her things and walked out without a backward glance. The executives had followed, their clipboards tucked under their arms, their faces unreadable. The other students had filed out in chattering groups, discussing their own presentations, their own successes, and their own failures.
No one had noticed that Bella's name wasn't called. No one had noticed that she wasn't part of any group because her name hadn't been submitted.
Bella stood up slowly. Her chair scraped against the floor, loud in the silence. She didn't look at Karl or Mira. She stared at the front of the room, at the blank screen, at the spot where her work had been presented by someone else.
Mira's voice was small and tentative. "Bella..."
Bella didn't listen. She walked toward the door.
"Bella!" Mira called again, louder this time.
Bella kept walking.
