Alot has happened over the past few years. Mother and john are away from home more often...and school has started up again.

I heard the bell ring for lunch to start. Watching the halls fill with students I wasn't very fond of, I kept my head low, making sure I didn't make eye contact with anyone. I thought that maybe if  I didn't look at anyone, I wouldn't be bothered...but I was awfully wrong.

Jessica, a blonde chubby girl who was way taller than I was, stopped me in my tracks. Her cheapskate grin dawned on me. Her Brooklyn accent harsh and firm. I could see figures of other girls behind her;she wasnt alone. I was cornered and in trouble. It was three against one...clearly unfair, but that was always how it was.

My eyes searched for an adult, but none could be spotted. I had just opened my mouth to yell for help but the girl stopped me; told me that if I spoke, there would be bad consequences. A chuckle came from Jessica as she saw the fear in my brown eyes. That was my mistake...letting her see that I was scared.

I took a breath and balled up my fists. Bracing myself,  I spoke firmly to the girl. "Leave me alone, I wasn't messing with you"

Jessica looked down at me and shook her head. "You dont tell me what to do. Youre nothing but a peasant who should just go take a swan dive off the top of the roof." Laughter came from all three of the girls.

Their laughs rang in my ears like clumsy church bells, reminding me that I was sleepwalking on a sea of happiness that I could not drown myself in. I let my head drop...it was no use.

Jessica began teasing me again. She pulled at my long, black silky hair. I repeatedly told her to stop, but she didn't...She never did. Before I knew it, my tiny fist hit her in the nose, making her let go of my hair and doubled over. Blood dripped to the floor.

I began to breathe hard and my heart raced. My palms began to get sweaty and my whole body began to shake;adenaline pumping through my blood.

The bigger girl got up slower than I had expected, but now all of them were coming for me. Their hands and fists out in front of them. Their faces feral dawning down on me. Jessica's two chihuahuas pinned me down. I struggled and kicked and screamed...But no one came for me. No one ever came for me...

I took multiple punches and smacks to the face, but I couldn't feel them; not until later.

After the girls were done throwing me around and taking out their anger on me, they left me there to cry and whimper; to hope that someone would come and take me away from this wretched place.

For the rest of the day, I hid in the bathroom stall, occasionally hearing the laughter of girls fade in and out.

When it was time to go home, I made sure to avoid those girls. I scampered to the bus like a mouse trying to get away from a hungry cat. But even then I couldn't avoid conflict with other kids. I stepped off the bus with my hair a mess and my face swollen.

I wasn't surprised when I wasn't greeted with a warm hug from my mother when I arrived  home...it was always like this lately. However, I didn't care too much. I would find something to occupy myself for as long as I needed to.

My mother came home sooner than I expected, but something was wrong. She had come home sober, and in a frantic hurry.

I remembered her telling me to grab only the important things like clothes and hygiene products. We were in such a hurry, i had forgotten to ask her where we were going.

It took a few hours to get there, but when we got out of the taxi, I couldn't help but stare up in awe at the tall building. It looked shiny with all its glistening windows.

It was a shelter..and it was where we would be staying for quite a while...or so I thought...

It took a while for us to get situated and momma even signed me up with a Boys&Girls club. The kids there were nice for the most part...until the adults disappeared. It didn't matter though, momma always told me:

"Never stoop down to an ignorant person's level. Always treat people with kindness and treat them better than what they treat you. You are a strong girl, keep being strong. Momma loves you."

So, I went back every day and attempted to be friends with them. I thought maybe things would get better and they would start being nice. Everytime, I would get laughed at and picked on, but my smile never broke from my face.  They would push me down and trip me, rip up my papers and call me mean things, but I still managed to smile at them and stay kind...ignoring the fact that they didn't like me.

Was something wrong with me...?