"So starting today, I'm breaking out of this cage."

With my palm on my cheek and my legs shuffling on the floor, I stared at the whiteboard. The teacher never paused but I wasn't concentrating. Why would I? Nothing mattered anymore.

She opened her handbag and took out a ton of papers. I guessed they were the exam marks. She, then, walked between every vertical row to hand us our marks one by one. I knew I would probably get an F. Still, I couldn't care less.

She was, eventually, next to me. The teacher placed the paper on my desk, with a wince. My guess was right, the letter F was written on the paper in red and surround by an unfinished circle.

'Trivina, come see me in my office after the class.' she demanded calmly.

'Why?' I asked, being curt.

'You'll know when you come."

She then resumed giving the papers. I wasn't disposed to go. Whatever she was going to say, it just didn't matter. I already gave up on life and in my eyes nothing was important any longer.

The class passed faster than a refreshing cold breeze on a sunny day. I gripped my bag and, like I was told, went to Mrs. Kate's office. When I opened the door -after knocking- I discovered that it wasn't only my teacher's office, it was the staff's. Five desks stood in the room, each one for a teacher. It was the first time I see this place from inside. A side table, which carried a coffee maker machine and mugs, stood right next to an artificial plant. The wallpapers were light brown and a carpet lay on the floor. The bathroom was on the left.

Mrs. Kate's desk was the last one on the right. She gestured for me to come. When I did, a teacher across us stretched a newspaper and embarked reading.

'Thank you for coming.' she said, softly.

I sat on the closest chair to her and nodded, still wanting to go.

'Trivina, I didn't bring you here to tell you that I'm disappointed in your marks or tell you that I'm going to tell your parents' she said, with a genuine smile. 'But I just really want to know what is going on. You've always been a straight A student and-'

I didn't pay any attention to what she was saying. I looked around, pretending that I was listening, hoping she'll let me go soon. The man was still reading. If I squinted, I would've been able to read what was written on the back- Since it was written in bold black.

'Trivina are you listening?'

I met her gaze. 'Yes, Mrs. Kate I am. It's just that I didn't have time to study.'

'I don't believe that, Trivina' she said, her tone not solemn.

'It's the truth.' I lied.

She shot me an incredulous look. 'Fine, then, but if you ever need to talk, I'm right here.'

I forced a smile and stood up. As I started to walk away, I started to get closer to the prior teacher. The words were clearer now. I swerved to open the door. Just when I pressed on the knob, my mouth felt dry. I withdrew my hands. My heart beats fastened. Something clicked in my mind. A bulb lit up.

Rachel Smith

I glanced the name Rachel Smith on the back of the newspaper. I knew that Rachel's last name was Smith, but still it could've been any Rachel. I recede and looked again at the newspaper. However, when I glanced the name "Ekyaj" in the title, I instantly snatched the newspaper from the teacher's hand. He didn't even react from his sudden surprise.

'Trivina! What are you doing!' Mrs. Kate said.

I stared when I read the headline "Three Ekyajee girls raped by soldiers" under the headline it said "Amy Graham, Rachel Smith and Erica Winsley"

'Trivina, give the newspaper back to Mr. Marcus!' she said, sharply.

My hands began to shiver and my eyes were flooded with tears. It has to be another Rachel. No, no, this can't be true. This is not the Rachel I know. But, the pictured of the three girls side by side, proved me wrong. I haven't met Rachel, I never even saw a photo of her. But she told what she looked like. The pustules on her cheekbones, the bangs which enveloped her forehead, the small scar she has on her chin from when she was four years old and fell, the thin eyebrows. Tears were already pouring from my eyes. My heart ached. I felt like the world collapsing on me.

'Don't feel bad, they deserved it. They stood in front of the army, to try and prevent them from going north.' He said.

I, finally, looked up. I narrowed my eyes on him, infuriated. My lungs contracted and relaxed faster than ever, as if I was rescued from drowning. I felt fire burning inside of me. I felt it flicker in my eyes and rush into my veins and emanate all around my body.

'It's their fault they were trying to protect their country you fucking asshole.' I shouted as loud as possible while looking straight in his face.

He turned paler than a chestnut. His expression quickly switched from shock to exasperation, though. Just when he opened his mouth to speak, I threw the newspaper in his face and ran out of the room. I ran from fear. Not fear from the teachers, rather a fear of reality. It's like I was running to reach an escape from this world. An escape that didn't exist.

'You are not going to get away with this! There's going to be consequences.' she yelled from behind me.

I didn't look back. My eyes kept raining. I ran as fast as through the tortuous school, so I could to reach the doorway and get out of this place. I had no idea where I was going, afterwards. All I knew was that I needed to get out, desperately. I didn't want to accept what I just read. It was too eerie. Too dreaded. And for some inexplicable reason, it felt like running would aid in doing so.

The doorway was remote in front of me. I rushed towards it, everyone staring at me as I did. Just when it was a meter away, Hailee suddenly stood in the way, obstructing the door. The other three girls were next to the lockers, watching like the others did. This really wasn't the time. I wasn't scared from her -however she was in my way.

'Hailee, get out of the way.'

She leaned on the door and crossed her arms. 'What are you going to do about it?' she asked triumphantly.

'Hailee, get out of the way!' I shouted.

At this point, people were gathered around us. They didn't stop us, they simply watched without blinking.

'Make me, then' she said, still crossing her arms.

I inhaled shallowly. Suddenly, I felt the same fire again- except this time it was bigger. Much bigger.

As I ran towards her, flashbacks of all the times she and her friends would hit and mock me played in my mind. The time she hit me in the bathroom and the time she hit me before English class and every other time were all so vivid in my mind.

I punched her on the face with all the exertion that I had in my clenched fist. Blood exploded out of her mouth and I saw a tooth making its way out. The crowd around us was, now, only saying one word:

"Fight, fight, fight, fight, fight!"

She was out of my way, now, but I didn't stop. I pulled her hair when she looked down, just so I can punch her anew. She toppled on the floor. However, I picked her up only to hurl her. She almost flew through thin air, crashing on the locker behind her with her back. She seemed dizzy and didn't move a muscle. A round dark purple bruise was sitting under her eyes. Blood stained the short dress she was wearing. If it was anyone else I would've felt guilty, but this was Hailee.

The students stopped cheering, now. I had no idea how I just did that. I didn't even realize, before, that I had this strength inside me. I behaved amok. I expected the other three to dash and beat me up for what I did, but they didn't. They stared at me -shocked by what I just did. They looked... intimidated.

The revelation that was waiting for me, finally came. I realized that Hailee wasn't so strong, after all. I had the ability to take her down. I had it inside of me the whole time. I realized that I could've suppressed all the bullying I was going through in the last months. I realized that if I resisted Hailee, the other three girls wouldn't come after me. I realized that I -for the first time- stood up for myself. I realized that now, at this very moment, I have the courage to do so. I realized so many things.

The principal of the school made her way through the crowd, followed by a couple of teachers. Once I saw them, I instantaneously opened the door and ran out. Adam wasn't there, of course, because it wasn't the end of the school day -yet. I heard burbling from behind me, so I shut my ears. All I did was run. I ran and ran, without ever looking back.

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