Exceptional

Chapter 2

A little teenager was fallen on her side, her wheelchair pressed against her. She watched people walk by, taking no notice to the world around them. Listening to music, tapping at their screens, or simply not paying attention at all. It was hard for her to walk, and so she needed her wheelchair. But at the position she was in, there was no hope of her weak body pulling her heavy wheelchair off her. "Help!" she pleaded. Nobody acknowledged her, not even a glance in her direction. Should she yell louder? She didn't want to make a scene. Maybe it was better this way. Maybe she had done something bad. Maybe karma wanted her to fall. She probably deserved this. Was this what her mom meant when she said that people like her would never make it in the real world? She lost the will to continue trying to pull her wheelchair off her, and layed her head down in defeat. Next thing she knew, there was a girl hovering over her, her long black braids falling just above her face.

"Do you need help?" Charlotte asked the girl in the wheelchair. She had figured out that this girl probably did need help, but she thought she should announce herself first. She could make out a short nod, and proceeded to lift up the wheelchair. The girl scooted away from underneath her wheelchair, and grabbed onto a lock attached to a locker, using it as a support to pull herself up. Charlotte gently placed the chair back onto the ground. "Wow! That wheelchair is heavy!" commented Charlotte. "What happened?"
"Someone pushed me over..." she muttered. Her face turned pink, as though she was embarrassed. Charlotte crossed her arms. "That's not very nice! I hope karma beats them up!" she exclaimed. "Thank you for helping me..." the girl said, sighing in relief. "No worries!" Charlotte said, extending a hand to her. "I'm Charlotte." The girl shook her hand. "My name is Rose." She responded. "Nice to meet you!"

Adalin approached the girls, analyzing the situation. "Adalin!" Charlotte exclaimed. "Can you help us?" She asked, looking at Adalin's chin to avoid eye contact. "Sure thing!" Adalin smiled, walking to the fallen wheelchair. Angling herself so that she wouldn't crush any feet, she grasped the handles and pulled the wheelchair up. Wow, she's strong! thought Rose. Charlotte watched as Rose walked to her chair. She noticed the strange pattern of her steps: it was almost as if she was waddling. Is that why she needs a wheelchair? Charlotte wondered. As Rose hopped up, Charlotte noticed that one foot plate was higher than the other. She simply decided not to overthink it and observed the people passing by.

At the ring of the bell, Charlotte proceeded to walk to her class, Adalin beside her and Rose wheeling behind them. "What class do you have?" Charlotte asked Rose. "ELA." Rose responded. "With Mr. Rowe?" Adalin questioned. "Yep!"
"Ooh, we are in the same class!" Adalin exclaimed. "See you, Charlotte!"

***

Charlotte sighed with relief upon the final bell ringing. She hated math of any kind. Numbers were certainly not her language! She met up with Olivia so they could walk home. "Hello!" Olivia greeted her. "Hey!" Replied Charlotte. As they walked home, they did a lot of talking. The autumn leaves blanketed the lawns of the houses they passed.

"Did you hear about that trip?" Olivia brought up. "What trip?" Charlotte asked. Olivia explained the 7 day trip that the school was offering to 6 students. "Ooh! I love traveling!" Charlotte exclaimed. "You would have to apply, and then they pick 12 students who have the best application." Olivia explained. "And then they pick the students they think deserve it the most, based on need and grades."
"What do you mean "need"?" Charlotte asked, a blank expression on her face. "Hmm.... That means, like, how much you require to be sponsored. If somebody's family makes a lot of income, their need is low. If somebody's family doesn't make as much income, they are less likely to travel on their own and therefore at a higher need." Olivia attempted to explain. "Uh, yeah. You could ask Adalin. We don't call her the 'human dictionary' for nothing." Olivia chuckled. Charlotte smiled in response.

The two girls said their goodbyes as they took their seperate turns. A few blocks later, Charlotte was at her house. She plugged her headphones and played some music while scrolling her phone. She tapped her notifications and smiled as she read the email Olivia forwarded her, regarding the trip. Maybe it could be worth a shot to apply. She thought. The trip was only inside the country. Her mom was the one who encouraged her to try new things. Maybe I should decide later. I may change my mind about it later.
At those words, Charlotte felt uneasy. I may change my mind later.

"I give up on her!"

Those 5 cruel words, so simple, yet so powerful. Those were the last words Charlotte heard from her father. What did she do? What happened to "I will love you forever"? What happened to the commitment Charlotte thought every parent was supposed to make? "Get out, then! Charlotte deserves better than you!" Cynthia called after him. But it was too late, anyways. He had already left.

Charlotte had glanced guilitily at the mess she made on the walls. "It's not your fault." Cynthia said over and over again, but from time to time she felt guilty. He may have wanted a non disabled child, but too bad. She thought. I like myself the way I am.

To Be Continued 🖤

(Quote from MissLunaRose)