Life Itself

Evanescent

Evanescent

/ɛvəˈnɛs(ə)nt,iːvəˈnɛs(ə)nt/

adjective

soon passing out of sight, memory, or existence; quickly fading or disappearing.

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When her pre-kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Kirk called her to let her know that Ying Yue was there to fetch her, Bahati, despite having run into one of her bullies minutes prior to her arrival, practically skipped to the door with her bag and jacket in hand to meet her.

Ying Yue greeted her with a smile and held out her hand for her to take. Ying Yue Jiang was a pale, slim, Chinese girl, who was really tall for her age or maybe she just seemed that way because she was still young and short. She lived with her father, mother, little brother and grandmother. She attended a public middle school not too far from her school which made it convenient when walking her to and from school since it was on the way. Her younger brother of only two years, who attended the same school as her, walked home from school with his friends but sometimes he'd come with his sister to fetch her. Bahati watched as she tucked her short hair behind her ear while she spoke to her teacher. She had recently cut her hair into a bob to make herself look more mature despite only being 15. She's nice and kind and always asked her how her day at school went, what she learnt and if she made any friends. When they finished their discussion they bid Mrs.Kirk goodbye and made their way home.

When she tells her about her bully, she smiled sadly and said,"it's just a phase." Bahati's face scrunched up at her words, "a phase?" Ying Yue nodded her head, "it basically means that it's just something that happens in a certain amount of time. It doesn't last forever. When bullies grow up they usually tend to regret what they did."

While she doesn't fully understand, a little bit of hope glimmered within her. "Just do your best to ignore him. He's not worth it anyway." It's always what she says and it has never failed to lift her spirits and make her hopeful for better days. But just as quickly as hope bloomed within her, doubt and apprehension soon began to creep in. Bahati never understood how Ying Yue could be so nonchalant about it. She really wants to believe that it gets better and it will stop but it's hard to be indifferent and to 'just ignore him' when it was happening to you in that moment. Repeating the mantra "it will pass" or "he's not worth it" while you're pushed around and called all kinds of names doesn't make you feel any less bad about what is going on. In fact every night she stays up and wishes that she did something about it. It is at times like these that she's jealous of the other kids in her class, who have older siblings that protect them from bullies like hers. She envies them. She doesn't have anyone like that so she has to stick up for herself but she doesn't know how to. She could tell her mom but she didn't want her to hear some of the things that she's heard some of the kids or teachers say. Bahati bit the inside of her cheek and willed her tears away. She'll never understand how people can be so cruel and mean to others.

To take her mind off of her troubles Ying Yue suggests that they practice her Mandarin. She's amazed by her progress at such a young age. The teenager knows if she keeps at it, she'll know how to speak the language as fluently as her. Ying Yue moves on to tell her a little bit more about her culture. She also asks Bahati questions about things that she has told her before like a quiz. Bahati as she expected had no problem replying, in English. It was like she sucked up everything she'd ever been told like a sponge. It never failed to amaze her.

When they get to her apartment Ying Yue pulled out the key from her bag and unlocks the door then hands it to her. "You lock the door and stay safe ok?" She nods her head and walks inside and does as she's told. She knows that Ying Yue never leaves until she hears her lock the door.