A Journey Through Tears

Rai – A Journey Through Tears Chapter 1: The Girl Nobody Understood The sun had barely risen over the small village when little Rai ran barefoot through the fields, laughing with the wind. Her clothes were old, her stomach was often empty, but her heart was full of joy. Rai lived in a poor family of five. Every day was a struggle. Her parents worked hard just to put food on the table, and everyone carried the weight of poverty. But Rai didn't understand those worries. She loved playing games with the neighborhood children, chasing butterflies, climbing trees, and eating whatever little food she could find. She laughed loudly, dreamed freely, and never thought about what tomorrow might bring. To her family, however, she seemed careless. "Rai!" her mother shouted. "All you do is play. Can't you help us for once?" Rai lowered her head but quietly slipped outside again, hoping no one would notice. Her father sighed with disappointment. "When will this girl ever grow up? She never listens." Those words pierced Rai's heart, even though she was too young to understand why. As the years passed, the distance between Rai and her family grew. She longed for a hug, a kind word, or someone to tell her they were proud of her. Instead, she often heard only criticism. One rainy evening, Rai sat alone outside the small house, hugging her knees. "Am I really that bad?" she whispered to herself. No one answered. The rain became the only thing that listened to her tears. Years went by. The cheerful little girl slowly became a quiet young woman. People believed time would heal everything, but some wounds only grow deeper. Even now, Rai still felt the same loneliness she had known as a child. She smiled in front of others... But inside, she was still the little girl waiting for someone to love her.