Without Blinkers

It was late April in 2016, the sun was in its peak, and the spring was there with its all magnificence. The trees were all blossomed in the garden of Oak Park High School. First examinations were done, and the students were just doing their thing -gossip-. Chloe was a junior student in high school. There were some rumors about her and the PE teacher.

The rumors were getting disgusting and disgusting, and most of the students were blaming Chloe except her friend group. The friend group of Chloe consisted of Alex, Jimmy, Taylor and her boyfriend Jason. They were always together in lunch some lessons and after the classes. They were literally talking about everything together in the coffee shop near the Oak Park High School.

One day ago, When the rumors didn't start yet, They were hanging out in a coffee shop near the square. They were ordered coffee.

" Do y'all think the janitor is creepy too? Come on he is just a man who wants some respect and maybe a little bit chit chat," said Chloe

Everyone nodded their heads except Jason.

" I don't know honey, I saw how he looked at you and I have no idea about him. He is new around here and I'm not the only one who has suspicions about him. I know you think that every person is good inside," said Jason.

"Actually I think maybe Jason is right. Maybe he is really creepy and some of the girls have a reason to avoid in the school. I think you have to avoid being alone with him anyway," said Jimmy.

" I'm with Chloe in this argument. I think you're overreacting dudes," said Alex and added, " We can defend ourselves, Can't we Chloe?"

" Yes, we can and we do defend ourselves but from what? From a man who is working hard in this shitty school and cleaning our toilets?" answered Chloe.

" Such a Pollyanna," said Jason and smiled, " But I love you babe you are always optimistic about everything. You are the love of my love but you have to listen to me about that."

" The coffees are getting stale," said Jimmy and they drunk the cold coffees that were hot at the beginning of the conversation.

Chloe was found in the teachers' room by the PE teacher the day after. She was naked and her wrists were cut. She was immediately sent to ER nearby. While she was laying on her deathbed, surrounded bu only her friend group and some teachers.

" How could this happen in a school where there are CCTV cameras everywhere, and there is no camera evidence of it? Do you think the janitor did this to her? " said Alex with wet eyes.

"We weren't talking to each other because of the little argument in the coffee shop. I hope she didn't try to suicide because the damn janitor attempted to rape my beauty. It's all my fault I have to call her that night even she said not to call her though," said Jason.

" Don't blame yourself for this. You couldn't know that will happen. She will be recovered from this situation. I think maybe Mr. Steel is a part of the attempt, There were some rumors about him and Chloe," said Jimmy. Jason was angry about Jimmy because of what he said.

" They were just nonsense rumors we've talked about it and I think we were clear," said Jason.

" I think you're right Jason It must be something about the janitor. I was agreed with Chloe about him but I think he is the usual suspect of this," said Alex and added, " If Mr. Steel is guilty why did he call the police even there were rumors about him and Chloe?"

" Maybe he was scared and he wanted to be the man who called the police to avoid the question about him," said Jimmy.

" Because of me, I should call her that night," said Jason again.

Everybody was blaming different persons but the most likely suspect was the janitor.

When the doctors said that there was semen in her groins, Alex was thinking that the janitor raped and killed her. Jimmy is suspicious about the PE teacher but he was started to think janitor is more likely to do such kind of thing. Because everybody knows that it is very easy to find the raper with the DNA test. Jason was thinking that he could prevent such a thing to happen and he was blaming himself and he was sure that the janitor did this but she committed suicide because of the rape. Two hours later they said Chloe is stable and she survived. They waited for Chloe to open her eyes. Then they've learned that it isn't a suicidal attempt.

"It was the janitor, wasn't it? Oh, babe, I'm so happy to see you alive. I don't want to make you remember it but we have to know that. Is it because I didn't warn you enough," said Jason.

"I'm happy to see you all. I barely remember about yesterday but the janitor wasn't there and I was in the teachers' room because Mr. Steele wanted to talk about the rumors. Then he tried to lock the door this is the last thing I remember," said Chloe

Then the results came and the PE teacher was arrested because of rape and attempting murder. It was the easy way to self-blaming yourself or blame someone who looks poor but they didn't think that the teacher who called the police is guilty. We are living with our blinkers and we don't want to get rid of them. Because it is easy to blame yourself or someone who is blamed with prejudice before. These blinkers sometimes help us to navigate through the road but in some cases, we have to be openminded. It is necessary to put off your blinkers in a while. But sometimes you have to believe your guts. The important part of it is keeping the balance between prejudice and the thing that we can't see with blinkers.