Delaney sits at her desk, anxiously opening the envelope containing her graded papers. She takes a deep breath, hoping for the best, but as she scans through her grades, disappointment washes over her.
Her hands tremble, and tears well up in her eyes.
"No... No, this can't be happening."
With each passing moment, Delaney's frustration and self-doubt intensify.
The weight of her efforts, the late-night study sessions, and her determination to succeed feels like it was all in vain.
She crumples the papers in her hands and throws them across the room in a fit of despair.
"I tried so hard... I gave it my all. Why isn't it enough? Why am I such a failure?" She sobs uncontrollably.
Heartbroken and overwhelmed, Delaney collapses onto her bed, burying her face in her hands.
The weight of her emotions becomes unbearable. Thoughts of hopelessness and self-destructive tendencies swirl in her mind.
Delaney sits on her bed, her phone resting in her trembling hands.
She knows that opening the messages from her teachers will only confirm her fears, but she also understands that she cannot avoid them forever.
Taking a deep breath, she musters the courage to unlock her phone and open the messages.
As she reads the first message, her heart sinks. The words are filled with disappointment and frustration, and the tone is harsher than she expected.
Tears well up in Delaney's eyes as she feels the weight of the scolding.
The messages from other teachers are equally critical, each one adding to
Delaney's growing sense of despair. She feels like she has let everyone down, including herself.
The weight of their disappointment crushes her spirit, and she struggles to hold back her tears.
"Why can't I do anything right? I tried my best, but it's never enough."
Her phone slips from her hands and clatters onto the bedspread.
Delaney collapses onto the bed, burying her face in her pillow, her cries muffled by the fabric.
Delaney's heart pounding in her chest, as she hears heavy footsteps approaching her bedroom door.
Before she can react, her father barges into the room, frustration etched on his face. He takes one look at Delaney and demands to see her grades.
"Delaney, I want to see your grades. Now!"
Delaney trembles, her hands shaking, as she retrieves her graded papers from her bag. She hands them over to her father, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Here they are, Dad."
Her father snatches the papers from her hands, his eyes scanning through the grades. As he reads each one, his face contorts with anger and disappointment.
"What is this, Delaney? These grades are unacceptable! You've let me down, and you've let yourself down!"
Delaney's eyes well up with tears, her voice quivering as she tries to explain herself.
"Dad, I tried my best. I studied hard and..."
"Your best? Is this your best, Delaney? I don't think so! These grades show laziness and a lack of commitment. I expected better from you!"
Delaney's shoulders slump, her self-esteem crumbling under her father's harsh words. She feels the weight of his disappointment, and it crushes her spirit.
"I'm sorry, Dad. I'm trying my hardest, but it's just not enough."
"Not enough? Don't give me excuses, Delaney! You need to do better. You need to work harder and get your act together! I won't tolerate mediocrity."
As her father's anger intensifies, Delaney's tears flow freely, her voice filled with desperation.
"Please, Dad, I'm doing my best. I need your support, not your anger. I'm trying... I really am."
"Your best isn't good enough, Delaney. I expect you to improve immediately. No more excuses, no more failures. You need to prove yourself."
Hs had been yelling at her for hours, and now he was standing in front of her, his face red with rage.
Delaney cowered in the corner, her eyes wide with fear. She knew what was coming.
Her father grabbed her by the arm and dragged her into the living room.
He threw her onto the couch and began to hit her.
He punched her in the face, her stomach, her arms, and her legs.
He screamed at her, telling her she was worthless and that she was a failure.
Delaney tried to fight back, but her father was too strong.
He kept hitting her, and she could feel her body going numb from the pain. Tears streamed down her face as she begged him to stop.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, her father stopped. He looked at her with disgust and said, "This is what happens when you don't get good grades. You're a disgrace to this family."
Delaney lay there, too scared to move. She was in shock, her body trembling from the pain and fear. She had never felt so helpless before.
YOU ARE READING
Unspoken Desires
Fiksi UmumCheska, a girl whose heart bore the weight of abandonment, had carried the scars of her past with her throughout her life. The wounds ran deep, originating from the neglect she had endured at the hands of her parents. Their absence had left her with...
