Elena walked into the quaint café, the soft chime of the bell above the door announcing her arrival. The air was filled with the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee and baked pastries. She approached the counter, her mind already drifting to the warm, comforting cup of hot cocoa she was about to enjoy. With a polite nod, she placed her order and found a cozy corner table bathed in the soft light of a summer afternoon. The café's gentle hum and the pleasant chatter of other patrons created a serene atmosphere perfect for her sketching.
Sitting down, Elena set her diary on the table and took out her drawing pencils. She sipped the hot cocoa, savoring the sweetness, and then turned her attention to the sketchpad. The page came alive with the delicate outline of a bird perched gracefully on a branch. Her fingers danced across the paper, capturing every intricate detail of the bird's feathers and the gentle curve of its beak. The sunlight streaming through the window bathed her in a warm glow, enhancing the peaceful ambiance as she immersed herself in the art. Her sketches were her escape, a world where she could express herself fully and without barriers.
The peaceful moment was abruptly shattered when the café door swung open with a forceful jingle. Kyle Thompson entered, flanked by his friends, Drake and Ileas.
Kyle Thompson, the son of the renowned businessman Sebastian Thompson, had always lived in the shadow of his father's success. Sebastian Thompson, a household name in the corporate world, built an empire from scratch, becoming one of the most influential and respected businessmen of his time. Kyle grew up with immense pressure to live up to the family name. The media often referred to him as the "heir to the Thompson legacy," a label that weighed heavily on his shoulders.
From a young age, Kyle was groomed to follow in Sebastian's footsteps. His childhood was filled with business meetings, elite schools, and expectations. While most kids his age were playing video games, Kyle was attending leadership seminars and being prepped for the world of high finance. His father's empire was vast, spanning industries from technology to real estate, and Kyle was constantly reminded of the responsibility that would one day be his.
However, despite the wealth and status, Kyle's life wasn't easy. His father was a perfectionist, known for his tough-love approach to both business and family. Mistakes were not tolerated, and weakness was seen as a failure. This environment hardened Kyle, making him distant and emotionally guarded. It was perhaps this harsh upbringing that led him to become a bully in his school years, taking out his frustrations on those weaker than him.
But behind Kyle's exterior of confidence and control, he constantly struggled with the fear of never being good enough. Living in the shadow of Sebastian Thompson, the man who seemed invincible, made Kyle question his own identity. He often wondered if people liked him for who he was or because of the Thompson name.
The pressure to live up to his father's legacy shaped Kyle into a complex individual, someone who appeared to have it all but wrestled with deep insecurities. It wasn't until he met Elena that he began to understand what it meant to be seen for who he truly was, not just as the son of a business mogul.
Drake and Prince, Kyle's closest friends, were also heirs to powerful family legacies, though their paths diverged greatly. Drake came from a line of influential politicians, his father a well-known senator. Despite his sharp intellect and quick wit, Drake often used humor to deflect from the immense pressure of public life. He had a carefree, rebellious attitude but always seemed to find himself navigating high-stakes environments, following in his father's footsteps whether he wanted to or not.
Prince, on the other hand, were the quiet and calculating son of a high-profile lawyer, known for his icy demeanor and strategic mind. He was always the voice of reason in their group, never acting impulsively and making sure his moves were always precise. Together, Drake and Prince formed a strong bond with Kyle, their friendship cemented by the shared weight of expectation and legacy, though each battled their own internal struggles beneath the surface.
They were boisterous and lively, their presence an unmistakable contrast to the quiet atmosphere Elena had been enjoying. The trio settled into a table just two seats away from Elena, their loud conversation and laughter piercing through the otherwise calm ambiance. Elena tried to focus on her drawing, but the noise made it difficult to concentrate.
As Kyle approached the counter to place his order, Elena, caught off guard by their sudden arrival, accidentally knocked over her coffee. The hot liquid splashed across the floor, landing on Kyle's shoes. Kyle's face twisted in anger as he looked down at the stain, his frustration quickly turning towards Elena. "What's your problem?" he yelled, his voice cutting through the café like a knife. The room fell silent as patrons turned to see what was happening.
Elena's cheeks flushed with embarrassment, and she scrambled to clean up the mess. Her hands shook slightly as she reached for napkins, but the effort only seemed to fuel Kyle's rage. "You can't even watch where you're going?" Kyle continued, his voice rising. "Look at you-always causing trouble." He leaned in, his tone laden with contempt. Elena tried to apologize silently, her eyes downcast, but her lack of verbal response only seemed to enrage him further. Kyle's friends, Drake and Ileas, watched with smirks, clearly enjoying the spectacle.
"Cat got your tongue?" Kyle taunted, his voice dripping with scorn. "Or are you just too stupid to speak?" His words were laced with cruelty, and the café's patrons exchanged uncomfortable glances. Elena's heart pounded as she struggled to maintain her composure, but Kyle's relentless bullying made it nearly impossible. His anger seemed boundless, and every attempt she made to avoid confrontation only seemed to escalate his frustration.
As the situation continued to unfold, Elena's face was a mixture of shame and resolve. The once peaceful afternoon had turned into a battleground of harsh words and glaring stares. Kyle's outburst was a stark reminder of the difficulties she faced, but amidst the chaos, Elena's determination to remain silent and dignified was unwavering. The café, once a sanctuary, had become a stage for Kyle's cruelty, but Elena resolved to face the situation with quiet strength, even as the harsh reality of his aggression played out around her.
She was shivering. She grabbed her phone and wrote,"I am so sorry, I didn't mean to do that to you. It was my mistake and I apologise for being born mute"
Kyle's face was filled with disapproval and ego. He couldn't figure out how he should have reacted to her. The cafe who was once burning with the anger of Kyle was now silent. "Let's go", he said to his friends and left the cafe.
The peaceful summer afternoon ruined as much as it could. There was just Elena's helpless self who was questioning her existence. Everyone in the cafeteria passed strange stares and murmuring started about her.
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YOU ARE READING
Silence Screams
Teen Fiction| ongoing | |First book of mine| ;) Elena has lived a life of silence-born mute, she has faced countless challenges, from being neglected by her parents to enduring years of bullying at school. Her world is shaped by tragedy and loneliness, but when...
