Zara sat in the corner of the school library, a book open in front of her but her mind elsewhere. The world around her was loud with whispers and laughter, but she had learned to tune it all out. Each day, she walked through the halls like a ghost, invisible to those who picked on her, unnoticed by those who didn't.
She flipped through the pages of the novel, the words dancing before her eyes, transporting her far from the harshness of her school. She found comfort in the stories, where the characters always seemed to find a way to overcome their struggles, no matter how impossible it seemed. Unlike her own life, where the bullying was never-ending and the words cut deep.
She let out a quiet sigh, her fingers tracing the edge of the book as she looked out the window. Why couldn't life be like a book? she wondered. In every book, the heroes faced challenges and came out victorious, but for Zara, it felt like there was no way out.
"Zara, are you still reading?" Mrs. Moyo's voice startled her, pulling her from her thoughts.
Zara looked up to see her teacher smiling at her, but her gaze quickly dropped to the book. "Yeah. Just finishing this chapter."
"You're always reading," Mrs. Moyo said, her tone gentle. "Don't forget, the world outside these pages is waiting for you too."
Zara nodded, forcing a smile. Mrs. Moyo's words were kind, but they felt distant. The world outside her books was harsh, and it wasn't as easy to escape as it was on the pages of a story. Yet, something about Mrs. Moyo's encouraging tone stuck with her, a small flicker of hope that maybe, just maybe, things could be different.
As the bell rang to signal the end of lunch, Zara gathered her things and stood up. She shoved the book into her bag, her fingers lingering on the worn spine. For the first time in a long while, she felt something other than dread. It was as though the book had whispered something to her, a quiet reminder that she had the strength to change her own story.
Zara didn't know how, but she was beginning to think that maybe she wasn't as powerless as she'd always believed.
YOU ARE READING
Whispers in the Pages
Teen FictionZara escapes the harsh realities of bullying through books, until one story changes everything. Inspired by a character's journey, she finds the courage to rewrite her own story and face the world with newfound strength.
