CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWELVE - The Weight of Unspoken Tensions

A hush fell over the room. Surprised looks were exchanged among the attendees. Nia felt the weight of dozens of eyes on her, but she stood her ground, chin lifted. As the meeting adjourned, Mrs. Baines brushed past Nia, fixing her with a cold stare that sent a shiver down her spine. The following morning, as Nia pushed her cart through the aisles of Tarrytown's only grocery store, she couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. Whispers seemed to follow her, hushed conversations that died down as soon as she approached. "Did you hear?" "The new girl..." "Standing up to Mrs. Baines..." Nia quickened her pace, her cheeks burning. She was beginning to understand what Laura meant about small-town life. Tuesday dawned bright and clear, sunlight streaming through the windows of the town hall. Nia had just settled into her daily routine when her computer screen flickered and went dark. "Oh, not again," she groaned, tapping uselessly at the keyboard. Patricia, the motherly receptioni