Tallulah & Wilbur | QSMP

Chapter 3 | Fighter

Tallulah and Chayanne were sitting under a big oak tree in the school's courtyard. It was their favorite spot to hang out during breaks. The tree's branches provided them with enough shade to escape the scorching sun while still being outside.

"Chayanne, how come you are always so confident? You never seem to doubt yourself," Tallulah said, breaking the silence between them.

Chayanne looked at her, his eyes shining with amusement. "What makes you think that?"

"Well, you always speak your mind, and you're not afraid to try new things," Tallulah replied, admiringly.

Chayanne chuckled. "That's because I have to be. For us. For Abuelito. For our friends." Chayanne looks at Tallulah. "For you, Tallulah."

"It is not something I 'just am' though. I make mistakes. I fail...", Chayanne adds.

Tallulah listened intently, surprised by what she was hearing. She had always thought that Chayanne was born with his confidence.

"But, that's not the only reason," Chayanne continued. "I struggle with self-doubt, just like you. I always felt like I was not good enough, that I didn't belong. It is a dark place to be in that way of thinking. I don't want to stay there forever."

"What did you do?" Tallulah asked, curious.

"I started small. I began with things that scared me a little bit, like trying new food Abuelito gave me or talking to strangers. I realized that most of the time, things weren't as scary as I thought they would be. And sometimes, but faking my confident and 'just do it', I think I tricked myself into believing I was certain in my decisions, behaviour... myself," Chayanne explained.

Tallulah nodded, listening carefully to every word. "But, what about the times when you fail? Don't you get discouraged?"

Chayanne smiled, looking thoughtful. "Of course, I do. But, I try not to let it define me. Failure is a part of life, and it's okay to fail sometimes. The important thing is how you get back up and keep going."

Tallulah thought about his words, realizing that she had never thought about failure in that way before. She had always seen it as a confirmation of her fears that she wasn't good enough.

"You know, Tallulah, you are one of the most talented people I know. You have a gift for music and painting that I could only dream of. But, I can sense that you don't see that in yourself. You don't see what others see in you," Chayanne said, placing a hand on her shoulder.

Tallulah looked down, feeling a little embarrassed. "I try to, but sometimes it feels like I am not enough. I want to be strong like a fighter..." Tallulah slowly raises her head. "Like you."

Chayanne squeezed her shoulder gently. "You are enough, Tallulah. You are more than enough. And one day, you will see that too. And in my opinion you are already a fighter. You are fighter against your worst enemy, Tallulah," Chayanne pauses. "Yourself."

Tallulah smiled, feeling a sense of warmth spread throughout her body. She was grateful to have a friend like Chayanne who believed in her, even when she didn't believe in herself.

They sat there for a while longer, enjoying the peacefulness of their surroundings. Tallulah felt a glimmer of hope inside of her. Maybe, just maybe, she could be confident like Chayanne one day. She knew it wouldn't be easy, but she was willing to try.

As they got up to go back to class, Tallulah felt a newfound sense of determination. She knew that it was time to start small and work her way up. Yes... Maybe, one day, she could be just as confident as her friend Chayanne.