“Okay,” Brevan says.
“We don’t really think those things we said,” Philomena says. “You’re incredible, and we were just being assholes for no reason.”
“If you didn’t mean them, you wouldn’t have said them,” Brevan points out.
“Okay, you’re right,” Philomena amends. “Wethoughtthem. Wrongfully. Not knowing you at all, and based solely on your appearance and the fact that you’re really quiet. But not only should mean things remain inside thoughts, but we wrongfully judged you.”
Brevan nods. “Okay.”
“You don’t have to forgive us,” Anna says. “I understand. But we wanted to apologize. Not just because we were jerks, and we were wrong, but because you’re really incredible, and we thinkthat’ssomething you should hear.”
“Thank you,” Brevan says.
“We’re going to head to the market and see about renting a jeep to explore. Want to join us?” Philomena asks. “Let us make it up to you?”
Brevan shakes his head. “No, thank you. I appreciate the invitation, but I’m going to go back to the domes and study.”
“It’s spring break,” Anna says, frowning.
“I have a paper to write.”
The girls exchange a look. “Okay. We’re very sorry and hope that someday you’ll forgive us, though it’s okay if you don’t. You don’t owe us anything,” Philomena says.
Brevan gives them a small smile. “Thanks.”
The girls wave and wander off. Brevan doesn’t get on the shuttle but begins walking down the road instead. I excuse myself from the small group I’m standing with and stop to tell Byndley I’m going to walk back.
It takes me a few minutes to catch up since I don’t want it to be entirely obvious I’m following Brevan like a creep. He pauses at a coffee shop and stops inside to order. That’s a perfect opportunity to join him.
Brevan’s smile when I step up beside him in line is much bigger than any of those he offered the girls. “Hi,” he greets.
“How are you, Brevan?”
He nods, shrugs one shoulder. “Good. Today was a lot of fun. I don’t always think about how lucky I am at Rainbow Dorset, but after talking with Auður and Einar today, I feel very fortunate.”
“I’m glad that Rainbow Dorset makes you forget that.”
Brevan looks at me with confusion. “Why?”
“Because I don’t want any of my students to think about how fortunate they are to have a safe, secure, happy, and healthy place to get an education. This is how it should be everywhere. This should benormal. I’m glad that RDU provides that.”
He sighs. “It’s… hard to hear what some people go through. It makes me sick to my stomach. Even worse is knowing that some people never escape the awful in the world.”
“When I was younger, I wanted to change the world. I wanted to force everyone to get over their shit and treat other humans with kindness and respect.”
“You don’t want that anymore?” he asks, eyebrows knitted together.
“Oh, I do. But I’m now realistic. Ican’tchange the world. It’s misleading to tell our young to reach for the stars and they’ll be able to make a difference in the world, because that’s not realistic. It’s setting that child up for failure. Maybe a better adage is encouraging them to change lives. If you can make one life better, then maybe you’ve led a successful life.”
“Huh.”
“I still want to force everyone to be better humans, but I know that’s not going to happen. People are so caught up in their own opinions and agendas, and feel like they have a right to shove it down other people’s throats. What would make me any different if I tried to force them to be better people?”
“I don’t think that’s the same thing.”
“It is. I’ve come to this realization grudgingly, even if I don’t like that answer. So, I changed my life goal. I can’t change someone. You’re never going to make someone change anyway. The only way someone will change is if the desire to change comes from within themselves. So I looked at what was in my power. What tools do I have that I can use to make someone’s life better?”
“And you found RDU.”
