LOVE BEYOND REALMS

THE WEIGHT OF SORROW

CHAPTER 4

Tears streamed down Alexa's face as she thought about her miserable life. For five whole years, she'd been living in a nightmare. Walking on the street, looking disheveled and emotionally drained, drew the attention of passersby.

Some people felt sorry for her. "What a poor girl. Who could have done something like this to someone so fragile and beautiful?" Others were less sympathetic. "She looks sad all the time. She's not the only one going through a tough time."

A few people recognized her as the first daughter of the Anderson family and snickered. "Isn't that the first daughter of the Anderson family? It's obvious she brought bad luck to them again. They must have dealt with her earlier."

The malicious comments stung, making Alexa feel more miserable. She was tired of being weak and timid. She was tired of being bullied.

"What do I do?" Alexa mumbled sadly. "I'm not asking for material things. I just want to be happy."

She wiped her tears and hastened her steps to school, not wanting to be late for her classes. Getting scolded by a lecturer after the terrible morning she'd had was the last thing she wanted.

As she approached the school gate, a flashy Rolls-Royce drove past her. Alexa smiled bitterly, realizing her stepmother had given the new car to Mirabel.

Mirabel, seated in the luxurious vehicle, caught sight of Alexa's petite figure near the school gate. She chuckled mockingly, thinking, "Oh, sis, you can't compete with me in anything, except for that damn bitchy face and figure you got from your slutty mother."

Mirabel focused on her phone, but then a sly idea crossed her mind. "Wouldn't it be fun to embarrass Alexa in class today? It would make her feel more miserable."

Alexa walked into the lecture hall, avoiding eye contact with anyone. She spotted an empty seat at the end of the hall and made her way towards it. Suddenly, Mirabel's voice pierced the air.

"Ooh, sister, why did you come to school looking so messed up? Didn't you have a bath before coming to school?" Mirabel's voice was loud, drawing the attention of the entire class to Alexa.

Alexa stopped walking and turned towards Mirabel, who was dressed in flashy clothes and had an elegant hairstyle. Alexa said nothing and walked to the empty seat.

Mirabel continued, "Sister, I'm talking to you! Didn't you have a bath before leaving the mansion this morning? As the first daughter of the Anderson family, do you think it's right to appear in public looking so messy and dirty? Have you ever thought about the family's reputation?"

The class erupted into laughter, and the students began to murmur amongst themselves. "The Anderson family must have committed a huge sin to be blessed with such a terrible first lady."

Alexa, expecting the drama, said nothing. Mirabel smirked, hearing the nasty comments about Alexa. She wasn't surprised that Alexa didn't defend herself.

Having studied Alexa for five years, Mirabel knew that whenever she embarrassed Alexa in public, Alexa would just walk away with her head lowered.

Alexa finally reached her seat, feeling mentally and emotionally drained. She remembered that she hadn't brought her books to school, thanks to her stepmother's cruelty.

She began to think of ways to take notes during the lecture. Asking her seat neighbor for a sheet of paper was out of the question, as everyone in the class kept their distance from her.

"I'll just have to record the lecture," Alexa thought to herself.

Just then, the lecturer, Mr. Robert, walked into the lecture hall, carrying a stack of notes and files. As he began to speak, Alexa tried to focus on the lesson, but her mind kept wandering back to her miserable life. She felt like she was drowning in a sea of despair, with no lifeline in sight.

The lecture hall seemed to fade away, and Alexa found herself back in the mansion, reliving the painful memories of her past. She saw her stepmother's cruel face, her stepsister's mocking smile, and the endless humiliation she'd endured.

Alexa's eyes welled up with tears as the memories overwhelmed her. She felt like she was losing herself, like she was disappearing into the darkness.

Suddenly, the lecturer's voice pierced the air, snapping Alexa back to reality. "Alright, class, let's move on to the next topic."

Alexa took a deep breath, trying to compose herself. She knew she had to stay strong, no matter what. But as she looked around the lecture hall, she felt like she was alone, like no one understood her pain.

The feeling of isolation was suffocating, and Alexa wondered if she'd ever find a way out of the darkness that had consumed her life.