❝Forever?❞ Raya asked nervous. She was holding onto that little moment of hope.
Chad nodded, smiling. He grabbed her hand and started to hold it. ❝We were meant to be together.❞
Raya Souix was built for the spotlight. She has beautiful legs and beau...
Raya slowly began adjusting to life after the harassment, taking each day as it came. The memories of what happened still haunted her, but she was determined not to let them define her. Each morning felt like a small victory—just getting out of bed and facing the world required all the strength she could muster.
Her mother, Tia, was her rock. Every day, she brought Raya meals, their shared moments over breakfast or dinner serving as a quiet refuge from the chaos. One evening, as Tia set a bowl of soup on the table, she looked at Raya with gentle concern.
"Are you sure you're ready to go back?" Tia asked, her voice soft yet firm.
Raya hesitated, staring into her soup as if the answer might be hidden there. "I don't know," she admitted. "I'm scared, Mom. What if... what if they start again?"
Tia reached across the table and took Raya's hand, squeezing it gently. "I can't promise that everything will be perfect," she said, her eyes searching Raya's face. "But I do know this: you're stronger now. Stronger than you were before. And no matter what happens, you're not alone. I'm here, and we'll get through this together."
Raya looked up, meeting her mother's gaze. The fear was still there, but so was a small flicker of hope. "But what if I can't handle it? What if I fall apart?"
Tia smiled, a mixture of sadness and pride in her expression. "Raya, you don't have to be perfect. It's okay to have bad days. What matters is that you keep trying, keep moving forward. And when you feel like you can't handle it, you call me. You lean on me, just like you have been."
Raya nodded, feeling a little lighter. "Okay. I'll try."
The morning Raya stepped through the school gates again, Tia was there beside her, walking her to the entrance. They paused just outside the door, the familiar hum of the schoolyard buzzing around them.
"You've got this," Tia said, placing a hand on Raya's shoulder. "Remember, you're not the same person who left this place. You're stronger now."
Raya took a deep breath, her heart pounding in her chest. "I'll do my best," she whispered, more to herself than to her mother.
Tia leaned in, kissing her forehead. "That's all I ask, sweetheart. Just do your best, and that will always be enough."
Raya nodded, giving her mother a quick hug before stepping inside. As the door closed behind her, she could feel the weight of everyone's eyes on her. But instead of shrinking away, she straightened her back and walked down the hallway with purpose.
