BULLIED NO MORE

The banging on the door woke me up, followed by the screaming of my name. I wished another day didn't have to come. I felt like I was trapped in a never-ending nightmare. I hurriedly stood up and opened the door, and that's when I saw her - my stepmother, Victoria, her face twisted in anger. " You little brat, sleeping up till now, huh?" she spat, her hand flying towards my face. I tried to dodge, but it was too late. A hard slap hit my cheek, leaving a stinging sensation. "I'm sorry, ma," I said, shaking, trying to hold back tears. I knew better than to cry in front of her. It only made things worse. "You're sorry?" she sneered. "You're always sorry, but you never change. You're just like your mother, lazy and useless." I felt a pang in my heart at the mention of my mother. It had been two years since she passed away, but the wound still felt fresh. "Get downstairs, now," Victoria ordered, her voice cold and detached. "You're going to be late for school." I nodded, still shaking, and made my way downstairs. I couldn't wait to get out of the house, to escape the toxic atmosphere that seemed to suffocate me every day. As I reached the kitchen, I saw my stepsister, Nicole, sitting at the table, sipping her coffee, looking like the queen of the castle. She gave me a smug smile, and I knew she was enjoying every minute of my misery. I grabbed my bag and headed out the door, eager to start another day, hoping that something, anything, would change. But deep down, I knew it was just another day in the same old nightmare. As I walked to school, I couldn't shake off the feeling of dread that settled in my stomach. Another day, another chance for Victoria and Nicole to make my life miserable. I felt like I was walking on eggshells, never knowing when they would strike next. I saw Martin, my boyfriend, waiting for me by the lockers. He gave me a warm smile, and for a moment, I forgot about my troubles. He was my rock, my confidant, my safe haven. "Hey, what's wrong?" he asked, noticing the red mark on my cheek. "It's nothing," I said, trying to brush it off. "Just Victoria being her usual self." Martin's expression turned angry, but he knew better than to confront Victoria. We had tried that before, and it only ended in disaster. "Let's get out of here," he said, taking my hand. "We can skip class and go somewhere else." I hesitated for a moment, but the thought of escaping the toxic atmosphere of my home and school was too tempting. We snuck out of the school grounds and walked to the nearby park. As we sat on a bench, watching the ducks swim in the pond, I felt a sense of peace wash over me. This was my happy place, my sanctuary. Martin turned to me with a serious expression. "Aryana, can we talk about something?" he asked, his voice low and gentle. I nodded, feeling a sense of trepidation. I knew where this conversation was headed. "It's about us," he said, taking my hand. "I love you, Aryana, and I know you love me too. But I feel like we're at a standstill. We've been together for a year now, and...I don't know, it feels like you're not ready to take our relationship to the next level." I knew what he was getting at. We'd had this conversation before, and I'd always managed to brush it off. But deep down, I knew I couldn't avoid it forever. "Martin, I care about you so much," I said, trying to choose my words carefully. "But I'm just not ready for that yet. I know it's been a year, but...I don't know, it feels like a big step." Martin sighed, his expression frustrated. "Aryana, we're not kids anymore. We're adults, and it's natural to want to take our relationship to a physical level. I promise I'll be gentle, I'll make it special...but you're always pushing me away." I felt a pang of guilt, knowing that I was hurting him. But I couldn't shake off the feeling that I wasn't ready, that I was still too vulnerable. "Martin, please understand," I said, trying to placate him. "I just need a little more time, okay?" Martin nodded, but I could see the disappointment in his eyes. "Okay, Aryana. I'll wait. But can I ask, is it because of what happened with your mom? You've never really talked about it, and I feel like it's still affecting you." I felt a lump form in my throat as I thought about my mom. It had been two years since she passed away, but the pain still felt fresh. "It's not just that," I said, trying to explain. "It's just...I don't know, I feel like I'm not ready to give myself to someone like that. I need to focus on myself right now." Martin nodded understandingly, but I could tell he was still frustrated. "Okay, Aryana. I get it. But can I ask, how much longer? I feel like I'm waiting forever for you to be ready." I sighed, feeling trapped. I didn't know how much longer I could keep him at bay. "I don't know, Martin. I really don't. Can't we just enjoy each other's company without putting a timeline on everything?" Martin shook his head. "No, Aryana. I need to know that you're committed to this relationship. I need to know that you're willing to take it to the next level." I felt a surge of panic. I didn't know if I was ready to make that commitment. But I also didn't want to lose Martin. "Fine," I said, trying to placate him. "I'll think about it, okay? Can we please just drop it for now?" Martin nodded, but I could tell he was still unhappy. We sat in silence for a moment, the tension between us palpable. I knew this conversation was far from over so after staying for a while we both said goodbye to each other. I walked home, my mind still reeling from the conversation with Martin. I couldn't shake off the feeling that I was trapped, that I was being pulled in two different directions. As I entered the house, I decided to check on my dad. He had been bedridden for months, and I always made it a point to visit him before doing anything else. But as I approached his room, Victoria stepped out, a scowl on her face. "Where do you think you're going?" she asked, her voice cold. "I wanted to check on Dad," I replied, trying to sound calm. Victoria snorted. "You don't need to bother. He's fine. And besides, you have chores to do. You can't just lounge around all day." I felt a surge of anger, but I knew better than to argue with Victoria. "Fine," I said, trying to keep my cool. "What chores do I need to do?" Victoria smiled, a cruel glint in her eye. "You can start by cleaning the kitchen. And then you can do the laundry. And don't even think about touching your food until you're done." I nodded, feeling a sense of resentment. I knew I had to pick my battles, and this wasn't one I could win. I trudged to the kitchen, feeling like a prisoner in my own home. As I scrubbed the floors and wiped down the counters, I couldn't help but think about my mom. She would never have treated me like this. She would have been kind and loving, not cruel and heartless like Victoria. But my mom was gone, and I was stuck with Victoria.I finished cleaning the kitchen and did the laundry, my mind numb with resentment. I was exhausted, but I knew I couldn't rest yet. I still had to eat and get some fresh air. After a quick bath, I stepped outside the house for a stroll. The evening air was cool and refreshing, and I felt a sense of freedom that I hadn't felt all day. As I walked, I noticed our neighbor, Mr. Alex , watching me from his porch. He was a man in his late twenties, with a friendly smile and piercing blue eyes. He waved me over, and I hesitated for a moment before walking towards him. "Hey, Aryana," he said, his voice warm and friendly. "How's it going?" I shrugged, feeling a sense of unease. "It's going," I replied, trying to sound casual. Mr. Alex nodded sympathetically. "I know things have been tough since your mom passed away. But I want you to know that I'm here for you, okay? If you ever need to talk or just need someone to listen, I'm here." I felt a lump form in my throat as I looked at him. No one had been kind to me like that in a long time. "Thanks, Mr. Alex ," I said, trying to hold back tears. "That means a lot to me." He smiled and put a hand on my shoulder. "Call me Alex, okay? We're not formal here." I smiled back, feeling a sense of gratitude towards him. Maybe, just maybe, I had found a friend in this lonely place. Just as I was starting to feel a sense of comfort with Alex, I saw Nicole walking towards us, her eyes fixed on me with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion. She was coming back from school, and it was clear she had seen me talking to Alex. As she passed by, she gave me a weird look, and I knew I was in trouble. She quickened her pace, hurrying towards our house. "Mum!" I heard her call out, her voice shrill with excitement. "You won't believe what I just saw!" My heart sank as Victoria emerged from the house, her face twisted in anger. "What is it, Nicole?" she spat, her eyes scanning the scene before her. Nicole pointed at me, her finger accusatory. "Aryana was talking to Mr. Alex! She was laughing and smiling with him!" Victoria's eyes narrowed, her gaze fixed on me. "Aryana, come here," she called out, her voice cold and menacing. I hesitated, feeling a sense of dread. But I knew I had to obey. I walked towards her, my heart pounding in my chest. As I approached, Victoria's hand flew towards me, slapping me hard across the face. "How dare you!" she spat, her eyes blazing with anger. "How could you be so shameless?" I felt tears prick at the corners of my eyes as she clipped my ears, the pain shooting through me. "Do you like Mr. Alex?" she sneered, her voice venomous. I shook my head, trying to defend myself. "No, Ma'am it's not like that!" But she wasn't listening. "You're sleeping out today," she spat, her face twisted in disgust. "Go back out there and stay there. You're not welcome in this house." I sat in front of the door, knocking and begging for Victoria to open it. But she refused, leaving me outside in the cold. I shivered, feeling a sense of despair wash over me. Just as I was starting to lose hope, Alex emerged from his house. "Aryana, come inside," he said, his voice kind and gentle. "It's too cold for you to be out here." I hesitated for a moment, but my naivety got the better of me. I followed him inside, grateful for the warmth and shelter. Alex offered me food, and I gratefully accepted. As we ate, he started asking me questions. "How old are you, Aryana?" he asked, his eyes curious. "I'm 17," I replied, feeling a sense of unease. "Do you have a boyfriend?" he asked next, his gaze intense. I nodded my head, feeling a sense of embarrassment. "Yes " Alex nodded, his expression thoughtful. I didn't think much of it, assuming it was just a conversation.