Wounds And Whispers 1: Echoes of Abandonment

6

Maya absentmindedly twirled her pencil, her thoughts drifting back to last night's dinner. She sniffed, trying to suppress the tears that threatened to spill as a familiar wave of fear, anxiety, and sadness washed over her.

The morning had been the same as always-Marga's warm hugs and Victor's cold indifference. But even those small moments of comfort couldn't shake the growing fear inside her-the fear of one day disappointing them.

"Okay children, I have a special task for you today!" Her teacher's cheerful voice snapped her back to the present. "The students who do well will receive a star from Teacher!"

Maya's heart thudded in her chest as her classmates cheered, their faces lighting up with excitement and competitiveness. They all wanted that star. But Maya's anxiety only deepened.

"I want you to draw what you want to be in the future and then share it with the class. Understood?"

A chorus of enthusiastic "Yes!" filled the room. But not from Maya. She shrank in her seat, her hands suddenly clammy. What do I want to be? Her mind went blank, the pressure building with each passing second.

After some time, the teacher walked to the front again, smiling brightly. "Is everyone finished?" she asked. The class erupted in a loud "Yes!" as kids raised their hands, eager to show their drawings.

But Maya could barely breathe. Her paper remained blank for too long, her mind racing with the fear of being laughed at. What if they don't like it? What if they think it's silly?

The first child stood up proudly, showing off his drawing of a doctor. He spoke confidently about how he wanted to be like his father, and the class clapped. The teacher beamed at him, placing a star on his drawing. Another round of applause followed, and Maya felt a sinking feeling in her stomach.

One by one, her classmates went up, sharing dreams of becoming police officers, businesspeople, and artists. They all had answers-dreams that made everyone clap. When Ethan's turn came, he stood in front of the class with a calm smile. He held up his drawing of an artist painting a beautiful piece, and the class was mesmerized by his skill. Even the teacher seemed impressed.

But then, it was Maya's turn.

Her legs felt like jelly as she slowly made her way to the front. Her heartbeat thundered in her ears, and her hands trembled as she held her paper. She stared down at the floor, unable to meet anyone's eyes. Silence filled the room. A long, uncomfortable silence.

Maya hesitated, gripping her paper tighter. Why are they so quiet? Are they waiting to laugh at me? Her breath quickened as she glanced up, just in time to see some kids exchanging looks. The giggles started softly but soon grew louder, filling the room with the same kind of laughter she had heard in the orphanage before.

She felt the tears welling up but fought them back. Her teacher noticed the tension and quickly tried to quiet the class. "Alright, everyone. Let's give Maya a chance. Maya, can you tell us what you drew?"

Her teacher's voice was gentle, but the kindness in her eyes only made Maya more afraid of messing up. With her heart racing and her voice shaking, she finally spoke.

"I-I want everyone to l-love me..." she whispered, her voice barely audible.

The laughter exploded instantly, louder and meaner this time.

"She just wants to be special!" one kid mocked.

"She wants attention so bad!" another kid followed.

Maya's hands clenched the paper tighter. The room was spinning. It was happening all over again-the taunts, the ridicule, the cruel laughter that haunted her from the orphanage.

Before she could stop herself, she ran back to her desk, burying her face in her arms. Her teacher's voice tried to quiet the class, scolding them for laughing, but Maya couldn't hear any of it. All she could hear were the echoes of the past, the laughter, the teasing, the hurt. It all felt the same.

Her body shook with silent sobs, tears soaking the sleeve of her uniform. She didn't notice when the teacher came over to comfort her. She didn't even look up when the bell rang for recess. The hurt was too deep, and all she could do was try to hide from it.

As the classroom emptied, Maya kept her head down, too ashamed to face anyone. She was certain she was alone-until she heard a soft voice.

"Your drawing was nice."

She lifted her head, her tear-streaked face meeting the kind eyes of Ethan, who stood beside her desk. His usual calm smile remained, unaffected by the laughter of the others.

"It really was nice. Can I see it again?" he asked.

Maya hesitated. Why wasn't he laughing at her like the others? Slowly, she pulled out her crumpled drawing and handed it to him.

Ethan studied the paper, his smile growing even warmer. The drawing wasn't neat, but it was clear-a little girl surrounded by people with hearts above their heads, all directed toward her.

Ethan handed it back to her gently. "It's beautiful," he said, his voice soft but sincere. "Don't listen to them. Everyone's art is special in its own way. Yours too, so don't feel bad, okay?"

Maya stared at him, not sure what to say or how to feel. His words didn't make sense, but something about them stirred an unfamiliar warmth in her chest. Before she realized it, a tear slipped down her cheek, not from sadness, but from something else-something she didn't yet understand.

Ethan didn't seem bothered. He simply offered her his handkerchief with that same kind smile. Maya didn't take it, still too confused by the strange emotions swirling inside her.

Then Ethan gently took her hand and gave it a soft tug. "Come on. It's recess. Don't you want to eat with me at the swing?"

He smiled again, and this time, something inside Maya loosened. She stood up slowly, following him outside, still unsure of what she was feeling, but knowing-just for a moment-that she wasn't alone.

***