Minutes later, under the blazing afternoon sun, Raya knelt on the schoolyard ground, surrounded by murmuring students.
Her face was flushed with humiliation, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"I… I admit it…" Raya's voice cracked as she shouted across the campus. "I judged Aurora Smith without knowing the truth! I am not worthy to be a teacher! Aurora scored full marks! I slandered her… I wronged her…"
Students gathered around in disbelief.
"What's going on?" one whispered, craning their neck.
"Why is Ms. Williams… kneeling and apologizing… to Aurora?" another asked, eyes wide with shock.
"Did I miss something?!" a boy exclaimed, bewildered.
Suddenly, a loud cheer erupted from a cluster of students huddled around their phones.
"Hey! Look! The school forum—there's a video uploaded!" a girl shouted, waving her phone excitedly.
