Tears of A Broken Child

Chapter 1

...I was always dreamt of being cared about, having that someone next to you who always knew what you needed and understood your feelings. I didn't find that someone. But I knew what I had to do...

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It was the usual day at school, hearing my math teacher complain about my intelligence level and why I couldn't be like my brother. Let me elaborate.

I'm Ember Riley. 16 and hated by all. My older brother Tyson, well, he's kinda gone. Becoming the shooting guard of Duke University is a big deal that he has to focus on. It's not like we even talk anyway. He was the shooting guard here too. He was smart and cute. Everyone adored him. They still do though. That's why they hate me. I'm the exact opposite of him. It's not that I'm not smart, it's just that I have problems memorizing. I'm not alethic and hate sports. Plus, I'm not that good-looking (that's what the other girls say).

I didn't even realize I was zoning out until...

"Miss Riley! It's bad enough you are failing the incredible world of mathematics. I see you're failing to listen as well?" My 'incredible' math teacher, Mr. Densils states glaring at me.

Look here, mister! I already have enough of that everywhere I go do you think I want to hear you tell me that for the sixth time since this period started?

All the other kids begin to laugh and call me 'Freak Show Riley' with Mr. Densils.

I try not to cry and quietly make my way out of class. But not before Mr. Densils pulls me back.

"That's two days of detention for not answering my question and leaving my class before it was over. See you after school," he says walking to his desk.

Really?

So you just watch a kid getting made fun of in your class? Even worse you join them and give the poor kid two detentions?

What kind of life was I living?

Passing the halls and hearing the laughs of the people in the hallway.

'Spaz'

'Freak'

'Ugly'

'Pathetic'

'Pillock'

'Ninny'

And a bunch of other names was thrown at me as I made my way out of school.

Why was my life so complicated?

What did I do to deserve this?

I opened my poetry book and began to write...

They laugh at you with no excuse,

You ask for help but they refuse,

They look at you like you're a fool,

But I have to ask, what did I do?

They call me names in the hallway,

Sometimes I wish they'd go away,

Will, I leap of faith,

Or will I let pain drown me again?

My heart is weak and they know this,

Breaking it day by day again,

Why can't they let me be,

Why do they have to be so mean?

I silently go to a place of solitude, my place, the cemetery.

It feels so calm here. No one judging you, no one making fun of you, just the welcoming hug of silence.

It's time for my detention so I make my way back to school. I'm the only one in the math detention so I feel relaxed. Mr. Densils is already asleep and I silently thank God for that. 

After an hour, I leave because detention is over and make my way home. It's silent which is odd because it's the Riley household. There's meant to be either someone finding the solution to cancer, solving an unsolvable equation, or discovering a new planet or so. It's never quiet.

I enter the house and I am met with the disappointed faces of my parents.

"Honey, we just received your results. Your class average was 78.9 and you scored 78.9? How is that even possible?" My dad asks slowly getting angry.

"Hello, dad. I tried my best. I really did but I sometimes have trouble remembering things." I say looking at the ground.

"Young lady look at your father when he is talking to you!" My mom snaps at me.

"We are Riley's! We don't do average, we do top marks. I did it, your mother did it, your brother did it and you will surely do it." My dad says gritting his teeth at me.

"I'm sorry I can't get straight A's and I'm sorry for not having such a good memory. Anything else you would like to add?" I say in my head not yet realizing I said that out loud.

"No daughter of mine is going to be a stupid one like you. So you can either study hard or get out of my house!" My father shouts

"So this is what you really want to do?" I ask with tears in my eyes

"Yes. Make a choice" He says checking his watch

"But I can't! Why can't you understand?!" I say crying

"You know what?!" He screams and by now my mom is alarmed

"Honey calm down for a bit," she says trying to calm him down

"No! you'll never be good or smart enough to be in this family. Get out of my house!!!" He roared at me.

And just like that, I was kicked out of my family.

I ran to my room and packed all my clothes and stormed out of the house. I went to the garage taking my brother's car with me.

I guess this was goodbye then.