NB: This story does not promote any kind of violence

It was a chilly August morning when Chanelle, Melissa’s mother woke her up. ‘Hey Mel are you still sleeping by this time, have you forgotten that you are going to school?

Melissa was spoiled rotten because she was an only child. You could see that she wasn’t intended to go anywhere though she was a grade 11 pupil. Can you imagine that? Finally she woke up and went to the bathroom to get a quick shower because time was flirting. Oh where are my school socks,she murmured to herself. What a troublesome girl! Then she asked her mother who was busy with breakfast. ‘Mom have you seen my school socks,I

can’t find them?’ Melissa looked for minutes and finally found them inside a wardrobe. Aren’t you gonna eat breakfast sweetie,her mother asked her sweetly. She was not in the mood for anything because she was eager to talk to her friend Linda. She waved her mother goodbye and ran to school. They went to assembly where she was hoping to see her friend. They sang and prayed and then went to their respective classes.

Both Melissa and her friend Linda were science students and they passed with good marks. ‘Hey Mel, wassup?’ They hugged each other and decided to chat more during break time. Mrs Baker, their physical sciences teacher started her lesson and told them to pull up their socks because they are going to matric.

In their class there was a certain girl named Elena and she was a bully. Elena and Melissa used to get along until one day when Liam, Elena’s boyfriend asked Melissa to help him with mathematics. Elena didn’t like that and decided to teach her a lesson she will never forget. In their class when the teacher asks a question Melissa and Linda would be the ones who would answer as if they were the only students in class. This made Elena to develop hatred towards them but her main target was Melissa . Both Melissa and her friend Linda were chosen to be class leaders and their classmates were happy except Elena.

During break time Elena marched up to Melissa and slapped her so hard. Her friend Linda was still busy looking for a certain book in a library so she was not aware what was going on. Poor Melissa did not know what to say and what to do. ‘Elena said to her, you think you are special we’ll see ‘ . Melissa was frightened and flabbergasted at the same time. What the hell is going on here,she murmured to herself.

She knew her friend would defend her if she were there but she didn’t want to talk about it. She just decided to brush it off and forget.”Forgive and forget”, that’s what her mother taught her but it was something different. She was afraid to talk about her problems to her own mother. When her friend came back the first thing she saw was a reddish spot as a result of a hot slap.”What happened Mel,her friend Linda asked her curiously”. Uhm… it’s just a mosquito bite,but she knew she was lying. She knew her friend cared for her more than anything else in this world but she didn’t want to involve her in that case either. It’s okay if you say so, you know I love you right?, Melissa nodded and smiled.

When the school bell rang for the children to go home, the two girls parted ways but along the way Melissa met Elena smiling sarcastically. She knew there was no one who would help her in this situation. Finally we meet, you think you are special but you are nothing but Miss nobody, Elena said that sarcastically. What exactly do you want from me,i haven’t done anything to you, Melissa remarked tearfully.

Oh really,then I’ll make your life not worth living and you will regret ever being born, warned Elena. She then grabbed Melissa by her hair and and dragged her where no one would see them and when she saw that they were out of sight she took a stick and hit her everywhere. She then ran away. Poor Melissa was struggling to get up because her whole body was in enormous pain. She was on her feet at last and managed to walk back home. Her mother was worried about her. “Where have you been, school ends in half past two and it’s now five?”,she asked concernedly. “We were still busy with extra classes and I’m tired right now I just want to rest,she responded lamely. Her mother said,all right don’t be afraid to ask for help I’m your mother. Melissa went to her room and cried her eyes out. She washed her wounds inflicted by Elena. They were hurting like hell but she managed to wrap them up with some bandages and rubbed some ointments.

“Hey Melissa aren’t you coming for supper I have prepared your favourite food pap and stew with some chakalaka,she said it happily not knowing her daughter is being abused everyday. Melissa had lost appetite.”Mel what’s wrong, please talk to me! It seemed like Melissa’s mind was far away in a distant land because she wasn’t concentrating on what her mother was saying. Her mother then said,okay you will talk if you feel ready to and goodnight.

Goodnight mom, Melissa responded lamely. She was tired and sad at the same time. What if her friend hears about her being bullied?How would she react? How about her mother? She didn’t know when she dozed off,she was not even interested in checking her socials. She just waited for the end of the year. Her mother promised her that whenever she finds a good paying job they will move to Cape Town. She just prayed that God gears their prayers.