Diary of Secrets

Chapter 9

Ms. Evans’ POV

As I stood there in front of the tall building, I silently cursed myself. Why was I even here? I remember when my step dad died three days ago. We both had different surnames as my mom married him after my dad died, but my mom couldn’t live due to her illness and I was left alone with him. I remember those days when he used to abuse me physically. I promised myself that I would never be like him. Yet here I was in a school, taking his position as a teacher. I knew I wouldn’t be like him. When he used to come home and beat me he used to tell me his stories about how he used to punish his students. I used to go through the same torture so I could imagine how they used to handle his torturous sessions. As I stepped into the school, I walked in my English class. I could see the faces they held, but one face caught my attention. Her face held fear. Her eyes were closed as if she was waiting for something to get done and over with. Instantly I felt a cold vibe from her and that’s when I decided I had to protect her. She was pretty, that I couldn’t deny. But she seemed alone like she had no friends. Even in the library when I found her alone, I made sure I sat next to her. How could anyone simply ignore her? Her face was perfect but they only showed sadness. I was staring at her and I could see beyond her.

The next day I decided I would ask her why was she always alone and why didn’t she socialize much, yet I wasn’t given an answer by her that I was looking for. I learnt that her name was Eva. Her name itself means Life, yet she seemed to be always an introvert. And I wanted to talk her problems out, but guess I wasn’t doing a good job at that. That day when I went back home, I was glad that I was alone. I was glad that I was free from all his beatings and could finally live a happy life. I started grading the essays that I made the students write and there was one essay that caught my eye. Eva’s. Her topic was Love. She had written so beautifully on it, which included a parental, friend and a soul mate’s love, yet her words had some deep emotions behind them. It deserved to be praised and that’s what I did in front of the whole class next day. She was so talented, yet no one knew about her. I was surprised when a boy stood up and called her names. I was used to be called by my step father too, but since he was no more, I wouldn’t tolerate any of those rude words sent to the girl who hadn’t even done anything. Sure the teachers gossiped around, but I was so not into their talks. I lived in my own world and was perfectly fine in it. I went to the playground and saw Eva there. Again she was alone. I asked her why people treat her like she didn’t exist. She seemed so beautiful and guys her age go for girls like her, then why was she always alone. A girl like her should have been popular among them. I was left all alone when she stood up and left me by myself to figure it out. There was something she was hiding from me. Did she never open up to anyone?

Then again when I was passing through the hallway, I found Jasmine and Eva talking something about me. I asked them what were they talking about and Eva told me that Jasmine was talking nonsense and it also seemed that she wasn’t comfortable being around her so I sent her to class. Eva was still looking down, and I found her so cute. Why was she being shy around me? I asked her that if she wanted to talk about something since now we were alone but yet again she left me standing alone. Why was she so scared to open up around me? The next day in class I noticed Eva as she wasn’t paying attention. It seemed something was bothering her and she even looked pale as if she wasn’t eating anything. When I found out that she was lying I wondered what if something happens to her and got a reply that she believed no one cared for her. All this while I was asking her and looking for her, didn’t she notice that I cared for her. Eva was a girl that reminded me of myself. I had no one for me back then so if I was there for her, I knew I wouldn’t regret it.

That same evening when I was going back home I found a girl lying on the road. I ran out of my car to her and found out she was Eva. I got scared. That was the thing I was afraid of. People didn’t respect her in school, and she wasn’t safe there so how could I have thought of her being safe outside school. I told her that I would take her home and I didn’t listen to any of her ranting. I asked whether her parents were home and learnt that they weren’t alive. I then hugged her tight. I knew how it felt to lose both the parents so I took her home where she lived with her aunt.