The following week felt like an eternity. Ramon, Violet, Mark and Lila kept their heads down, attending classes and focusing on their schoolwork, but they could feel the shift in the atmosphere around campus. News of Xavier’s suspension spread quickly, and reactions varied—some students supported the decision, while others whispered that Ramon and his friends had crossed a line.Each day, the tension grew as Xavier’s supporters grew bolder. Ramon noticed them glancing at him from across the campus courtyard, and Lila was sure she’d caught someone following her home twice that week. Though Dr. Thornton assured them that security had been tightened, they were constantly on edge.One evening, Ramon sat alone in the library, trying to study but struggling to focus. He couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was watching him. Every small noise, every creak of a floorboard, sent his nerves tingling. A chill prickled the back of his neck, and he looked up to see a shadowed figure slipping in

The day of Xavier’s appeal hearing dawned gray and damp, a thick mist clinging to the campus grounds as if nature itself was holding its breath. The atmosphere was heavy, tense with an anticipation that hung in the air, felt by every student, professor, and staff member who had been following the story. For Ramon, Violet, Lila, and Melina, it felt like the climax of a long and grueling battle.They met early at the library, preparing for what they knew would be a tough day. Despite the piles of evidence they’d gathered, the witnesses who had come forward, and the undeniable pattern of Xavier’s behavior, there was an undercurrent of dread running through each of them.Violet, pacing back and forth, shook her head in frustration. "It doesn’t matter how much we have. Xavier’s good at manipulating people, at twisting things to his advantage. He’s had years of practice."Ramon tried to reassure her, though he felt a pang of doubt himself. "This time is different, Violet. We’re prepared. We

The semester unfolded with a renewed sense of unity on campus. Voices Unmuted continued to grow, reaching students who had once felt isolated, and bringing them into a supportive, understanding community. For Ramon, Violet, Lila, and Melina, the group had become more than just a project—it was a purpose, a way to heal and inspire others to do the same. Yet, as their work flourished, Ramon couldn’t ignore the feeling that something personal was changing within him, that his journey wasn’t complete just because he’d found purpose.Ramon spent more time reflecting, often retreating to the quiet corners of the library or the campus gardens to write in his journal. Through this process, he started to uncover old fears and insecurities he had buried. Despite the work he was doing with Voices Unmuted, he still struggled with his own inner critic—the voice that whispered doubts about his worth, his ability to lead, and his right to happiness. These thoughts nagged at him, especially on nights