Our different worlds

My worth

The moment we stepped out of the room, we were greeted by an explosion of excitement and admiration. People were clapping, cheering, and chanting Alex's name as if he were some kind of hero-and, in a way, he was. It was as though his speech had ignited a fire in everyone, especially those who had been stifling their own dreams and desires to live up to their parents' expectations.

Students swarmed around Alex, telling him how much his words meant to them. Some even confided that they had dreams they'd hidden away, hobbies they had abandoned, or goals they thought they could never pursue because of family pressure. Alex's courage seemed to give them a voice they hadn't known they needed.

And then, something even more surprising happened. Out of nowhere, Charlotte reached for Thomas's hand and intertwined her fingers with his. They were standing right in the middle of the crowd, Charlotte leaning into Thomas, her face glowing as he looked down at her with pure adoration. People around us gasped, eyes widening as they registered the two of them together, openly, without the usual secrecy or caution. It was a sight that sent ripples of murmurs through the crowd; the untouchable Charlotte Beaumont was now standing hand-in-hand with someone deemed "not good enough" by her family.

Maeve chuckled and whispered to me, "Now that's a sight I never thought I'd see. Those two... wow."

I smiled back, feeling the hope and unity of the moment. For a brief, wonderful period, everything felt perfect-Alex had made his stand, Charlotte was finally embracing her love for Thomas, and we all felt like we'd broken through the suffocating walls of society's expectations.

But the bliss was short-lived.

Out of nowhere, a sleek, black limousine pulled up in front of the university. The shiny vehicle was imposing, almost like a predator waiting to strike. And the moment I saw it, dread filled my stomach. I knew exactly who it was.

The chauffeur opened the door, and out stepped David Beaumont, Alex's father, his face a mask of cold fury. The crowd fell silent as his imposing figure strode toward us. Without hesitation, he cut through the sea of students, his eyes locked on Alex with a fiery, furious glare.

"Alex!" he barked, his voice slicing through the silence like a knife.

Before any of us could react, David raised his hand and slapped Alex across the face. The sound echoed in the stunned silence, the harsh smack sending a chill through everyone watching. Alex stumbled back, his face turning red where David's palm had landed, shock and anger flaring in his eyes. A collective gasp rippled through the crowd, and people scrambled to pull out their phones, recording the scene unfolding before them.

Without thinking, I stepped between them, my body shielding Alex from his father. My heart raced, but I refused to back down. I felt the anger rising in me as I glared at David, my own heart pounding with outrage. He looked at me, disdain etched into every line of his face.

"Move aside," he demanded, his voice filled with cold authority. "This doesn't concern you, girl."

But I stood my ground. "It does concern me," I replied firmly, my voice unwavering. "You have no right to treat your son like this."

David's eyes narrowed, his lips curling into a sneer. "You think you can talk to me, you little nobody?" he spat, his tone laced with contempt. "You're a poverty-stricken girl who shouldn't even be sharing the same air as my family."

That was it. I felt something snap within me, a fierce determination mixed with all the frustration of every time I'd been looked down upon, dismissed, or belittled by people like him.

"Mr. Beaumont," I began, my voice clear and steady despite the anger boiling within me, "I know my worth. I know that I've worked hard to get where I am today, and I don't need a single word from you to validate my existence. I'm proud of who I am-of being an excellent student, a good friend, and a supportive daughter and sister. I don't need some old man who barely knows my name to make me feel small because of my social status."