Bruised, Not Broken

Chapter 3 - Why can't you be like her?

After school, Maria decided to accompany Alexandra on her way home.

When the bell rang to signal the end of classes, everyone stood up to leave. Alexandra and Maria started packing their things. They closed their books one by one, folded their notebooks neatly, and placed everything carefully inside their bags. Alexandra moved slowly, her every action gentle and careful, while Maria helped her double check that nothing was left behind.

As they walked out of the classroom and down the hallway, Alexandra felt a sharp, throbbing pain shoot through her foot—the same one she had twisted when Kiara tripped her earlier. Every time she put weight on it, it felt like needles were piercing her skin. She tried to hide it, limping slightly and walking as slowly as she could, biting her lip to hold back a cry.

"Are you okay, Alex?" You're walking so slowly," Maria asked, noticing her struggle.

Alexandra forced a small, pained smile. "I-I'm fine... Just a little tired."

But the pain only got worst with every step. Her foot felt swollen and heavy, and her leg began to shake from the strain. She tried to keep going, gritting her teeth, until suddenly, her injured foot gave away completely. She lost her balance, her legs turning weak beneath her.

Before Maria could reach out to catch her, Alexandra fell down hard onto the rough pavement. A small gasp of pain escaped through her lips as she landed, her bag tumbling beside her. She immediately curled up slightly, clutching her swollen foot tightly, tears stinging her eyes from the intense ache.

"Alexandra!" Maria quickly knelt beside her, worriedly helping her sit up. She gently touched her foot, making Alexandra wince. "This isn't just tiredness! It's swollen and hurt bad! You should have told me earlier!"

"It's nothing... I can still walk," Alexandra whispered, wiping her eyes quickly, though pain was written all over her face.

With Maria's help, she stood up again, leaning heavily on her friend's shoulder. It took them much longer than usual to reach Alexandra's house. By the time they arrived, Alexandra was exhausted, her foot throbbing and her heart heavy.

"Do you want me to come in with you?" Maria asked softly.

Alexandra shook her head. "It's okay... Thank you Maria. You can go home now. I'll be fine."

She watched her best friend walk away, then took a deep breath and pushed the wooden gate open. She limped slowly towards the front door, already dreading what was waiting inside. As soon as she stepped in, the loud voices of her aunt and cousins greeted her.

There, sitting comfortably on the sofa, was her cousin, Maya—beautiful, smart, dressed in nice clothes, and holding a brand new bag. Her aunt and uncle surrounded her, smiling proudly and listening to every word she said. Compared to Alexandra, who stood by the door with dirty uniform, an injured foot, and an old bag, Maya looked like a princess.

"Oh, you're finally home," her aunt said, glancing at her with no warmth in her eyes. She didn't even ask if she was okay or why she was limping. Instead, her eyes travelled from Alexandra's messy hair down to her dusty shoes, and she clicked her tongue in disappointment.

"Look at you," her aunt sighed, shaking her head. "Dirty clothes, always looking so weak and poor. And look at your cousin Maya... She just got another modeling offer! Her uniform is always neat, her things are expensive, and she knows how to carry herself properly."

Maya looked at Alexandra and smirked, flipping her hair proudly.

Her aunt walked closer, crossing her arms and looking at Alexandra with disappointment written all over her face.

"Why can't you be like her?" She asked, her voice sharp and cold. "Why do you always have to be so... Ordinary? So...burdensome? Maya, she has everything, and she shines wherever she goes. But you? You are just here, eating our food, living in our house, and bringing nothing but trouble and mess. No wonder neither of your parents want you."

Her uncle nodded in agreement. "It's true. If only you were more like Maya—smart, rich, and worthy of attention. Maybe then we would be proud of you too."

Those words hit Alexandra harder than any fallen injury ever could. She stood there, trembling, her injured foot aching, her heart breaking all over again.

Why can't you be like her?

The question echoes in her mind, just like it had done a thousand times before. She looked at Maya, who was smiling happily, loved and praised by everyone. Then she looked at herself—alone, hurt, unwanted, and forever compared to someone "better"

She bit her lip to stop herself from crying, clutching the strap of her old bag tightly. She realized then that it wasn't just at school where she was treated like trash. Even in her own home, even with her own family... She would always be second best. She would always be the one they wished was someone else.

"I.. I'm sorry," she whispered, her voice cracking, though she didn't even know what she was apologizing for.

"Sorry isn't enough," her aunt replied coldly, turning her back to her focus on Maya again. "Go to your room and clean yourself up. Don't ruin the mood here with your sad face."

Alexandra limped away slowly, every step painful both physical and emotional. She entered her small, dark room and closed the door behind her, sliding down against it until she sat on the floor.

Tears finally fell freely down her cheeks. She hugged her knees to her chest, her injured foot throbbing, her heart aching, and the cruel words repeating over and over in her head:

Why can't you be like her?

She thought school was hard... But she was wrong. The place she called home was the cruelest place of all.

She looked around her tiny, cold room, the only place where she could truly be herself, where she could cry without judgement. It was dark, silent, and felt as empty as her heart. She was trapped—trapped in a life she didn’t choose, in a family that didn’t want her, and in a pain that seemed to have no end.

Closing her eyes tightly, Alexandra made a silent promise to herself. She might be bruised, she might be broken, but she wouldn’t stay this way forever. One day, she would find a way out. One day, she would be enough.

But for now, all she could do was cry, letting the tears wash away a fraction of the heavy burden in her soul. She just wanted to disappear.