Leaning with my back against a wall I slide to the ground staring at my hands. Why am I here... what's the point? I can't see any reason for me to be here. I feel guilty, yet I know I have done nothing wrong.

Today was worse than most. Each day everything builds up and escalates a little more. At first it was small things, 'misplaced' belongings and words that left little paper cuts in my heart. Gradually these turned into carefully placed feet tripping me up and harsh words slashing at my heart with knives.

I don't even know why they do it. All I want is to have friends, people I can rely on. I want to be able to focus on my work and to walk through the school grounds without feeling targeted. Why am I alone?

I look up hearing the scuffing of feet to see a girl. She looks hesitant and I am alarmed to see emotions in her eyes that I cannot place. Why is she looking at me like that? Is she here to taunt me and tease me like the others? I have seen her hanging around with them.

I don't know what to do. I didn't expect anyone to come around this side of the school. I wonder why she is here?

The girl opens her mouth and I begin shrink into myself, expecting to hear a harsh voice that calls me all sorts of unpleasant names. But that is not what I hear. Her voice is soft and hesitant.

"Hi... I'm Kya. I was just wondering, um, why the others bully you? A-and are you all right?" She enquires shyly.

I just stare at her wondering if it is a trick, if she trying to make me let my guard down before giving another blow to my heart. That is until she starts speaking again, albeit nervously.

"I-I mean, I haven't seen you do anything mean or wrong like they do. If anything, you seem nice but lonely"

This statement shocks me. Why is she asking? Does she care? I finally muster up the courage to speak.

"Um, I'm Layla. I don't really know why they do it. No matter how nice I try to be they still reject me." My voice is barely above a whisper.

"Well then maybe I just shouldn't be near them if there is no reason for such cruelty!" She says shocking me with her determination before she reaches into her bag and pulls out something and continues. "Here I snuck this pencil case out of one of their bags. I think it might be yours."

I look at the pencil case she is holding out to me. Sure enough it was my soft pink, blue and green pencil case that went missing a few days ago. I try to hold back tears welling in my eyes. That pencil case was a birthday gift from my mom, I was devastated when it 'went missing'.

Slowly and cautiously I reach out and gently take it from her hands looking in her eyes all the while. She smiles softly and sits down beside me. That's when I realise, the look in her eyes is kindness and acceptance.

"Thank you." I reply with overwhelming emotion.

As we sit and Kya starts talking to me I start to feel something I had almost lost, hope. Maybe I'm not alone. Maybe I can be accepted. Maybe I can have friends.