Ellie stood beside the bathroom door, her heart pounding as she strained to catch snippets of the girls' conversation inside. Familiar laughter floated through the air, and she recognized one of the voices—Emily, her friend. They often spent their breaks playing together, and Ellie occasionally treated her to lunch, cherishing their friendship. Emily was strikingly beautiful, her long, soft black hair cascading like silk over her shoulders. Ellie often found herself admiring Emily’s radiant smile and effortless charm, seeing her as a source of inspiration.
But then, Ellie heard the other girl’s voice cut through the laughter, harsh and mocking. “Are you serious right now? Are you friends with that alien? She is so ugly.” Ellie’s breath caught in her throat, a wave of shock washing over her. The words pierced her heart, leaving a chilling ache in their wake. Deep down, she knew Emily wouldn’t view her that way, but to her dismay, Emily responded with a taunting edge. “Of course not! I’m only nice to her because Jake told me she has money. Everyone in class pretends to be her friend because she buys us so many things. Ewww, just being around her makes me feel like vomiting; she’s so disgusting.” The girls erupted into laughter, their cruel words slicing through Ellie like shards of glass, each insult a stark reminder of her insecurities.
Feeling as though she had been slapped, Ellie’s eyes welled up with hot tears that spilled unchecked down her cheeks. She turned and fled to an empty classroom, seeking refuge from the painful humiliation. Her hands trembled as she fumbled for her phone, finally dialing her driver. “Sir, please, I want to go back home,” she sobbed, each word barely escaping between her gasps.
Her driver’s concern was palpable when he replied, “Are you okay, Mrs. Malcolm?” Yet, the question only deepened her sorrow, and she remained silent, tears continuing to stream down her face. After collecting her school bag, she stepped out of the classroom and stood by the school gate, the world around her blurring through her tear-stained vision as she waited for her driver.
Minutes dragged on, each second feeling like an eternity until her driver finally arrived. He emerged from the car, worry etched across his face, and opened the door for her. Ellie climbed into the back seat, feeling the weight of the world pressing down on her. The silence in the car was heavy, punctuated only by her quiet sobs, and as he drove her home, he glanced back at her, concern thick in his voice. “What happened, Mrs. Malcolm?” But feeling raw and exposed, she could only stare out the window, lost in the storm of her thoughts, replaying the harsh words that had shattered her sense of self.
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The Accepted Outcast
Teen FictionEllie Malcolm was born with unusual features: she had no body hair, pale skin, and wide blue eyes, which made her seem unattractive to others. As a result, her classmates bullied her, and she felt unloved by her parents. However, everything changes...
