Road back Home

2

"Daddy, daddy, look!" a tiny Anni exclaimed, holding a small bouquet of flowers she'd just collected in a kindergarten garden.

"Wow, those are beautiful!" Tino praised.

Anni outstreched her arm. "They're for you!"

"For me? Wow! Thank you!" He took them and patted his daughter's head. The other parents taking their children home "awwww"ed. Though not all.

"It must be sad to have only your child to give you flowers."

"But isn't it his own fault?"

"I heard he's been disowned."

"Not a surprise."

Tino heard the mean whispers and tugged on Anni's arm.

"Come on, honey, let's go home and make some pudding!"

"Yay! Pudding! Pud-ding!" Anni sang as she hopped besides her dad.

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Anni was looking out of the bus window. They were closing to the school, yet Anni still made no motion to get up. Would it really make a difference if I missed class today? Would anyone even notice? I don't think so. One time she had a doctor appointment and missed the first three lessons, only to come back and realize they haven't even noticed she wasn't there. Not even the teachers.

Am I really that forgettable? Or do they just not care? Welp, still better than the times I got bullied, that's for sure. Bitches were surprised when I started taking self-defence classes.

She remembered how badly had she kicked the bully's butt that day and smirked to herself.

"You can't just break someone's nose!"

"And they can just say my dad's a whore?"

Anni resignedly sighed. She picked up her schoolbag and exited the bus, deciding to play a good girl for some time. She couldn't wait for the moment she got back home and played metal music for hours while doodling some skulls and moomins on her notebooks.

The day passed without any interruptions almost until the end. It was in the second-to-last period that something happened.

The principal entered the classroom, whispered in the teacher's ear and the teacher pointed at Anni.

Anni thought she was going to have a heart attack.

The principal nodded for Anni to follow her, as she exited the room. Anni nervously picked up her belongings and followed, her back being watched by twenty curious gazes.

Once out the room, she mustered enough courage to ask "Ma'am? Did I do something?"

The principal stiffened and turned to face the girl. "No, you didn't do anything, Anni."

Anni was confused and puzzled. If she hadn't done anything, what is this about?

The principal's eyes suddenly became wet.

"I'm so sorry, Anni, I'm so sorry."

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Hi! I have something to say now:

First off, I don't really know how does the finnish education system work, so I took liberties.

Second, don't worry, we're just getting started. Stuff will be better from chapters four or five, I'm not sure yet. This now is just a setting up for the main conflict.