Maya hadn't moved. She stood in the exact same spot, her posture still perfect, her expression calm.
Trent slowly turned his head to look at her. The tears were spilling down his cheeks now. "Are you happy?" he croaked. "You ruined my life."
"You ruined your own life, Trent," Maya said, her voice steady and clear so the remaining crowd could hear. "I just turned on the lights."
She took one step forward, extending her open palm.
"The watch," she said.
Trent stared at her hand. For a moment, it looked like he might refuse, like he might try to cling to this one final piece of stolen power. But as he looked at Maya’s unwavering gaze, he realized he had absolutely nothing left to fight with.
His fingers went to his left wrist. The metal clasp clicked. He slid the heavy silver diving watch off his arm.
He didn't hand it to her. He dropped it into her open palm, unable to look her in the eye.
Maya closed her fingers around the cool metal. The weight of the watch felt incredibly heavy, grounding her. She ran her thumb over the back casing, feeling the distinct, jagged scratch over the serial number.
A wave of profound relief washed over her. The anger that had been burning a hole in her chest for the last year finally began to cool, replaced by a deep, quiet peace. She had done it. She had promised Leo she would get it back, and she had.
Maya slipped the watch into her pocket. She adjusted the strap of her blue backpack one final time.
She turned to face the corridor.
Brody and the remaining jocks, who had blocked her path just moments ago, immediately shuffled out of the way. The crowd of students instinctively stepped back, pressing themselves against the lockers, creating a wide, clear path straight down the center of the hallway.
No one whispered. No one sneered. No one laughed.
Maya walked down the center of the hall, her head held high, the silver watch resting safely in her pocket. The sound of her steady footsteps echoed against the lockers, the only sound in the corridor, as she left the wreckage of the school bully far behind her.