ELLA'S DIARIES✨📚.

Loud laughter echoed from the girls' toilet. Lily sat on the cold, wet floor. Her uniform was soaked — covered in toilet water and soap foam. The stench was so strong, it made her want to vomit. But she couldn't even move. All she wished for at that moment was for the ground to open and swallow her. Jennifer stood over her, phone in hand. Click. She was taking pictures. Recording her like an animal. "See the smelling pig," Jennifer laughed, her voice full of disgust. Her friends laughed louder, as if Lily was not even human. They all walked out, leaving her alone on that dirty, cold floor. Lily didn't move. She couldn't. The bell rang. Revision for their next exams had started. Laughter from other classrooms reached her ears, but she refused to attend any class that day. How could she? How could she walk out smelling like this? She waited until the whole school was empty and silent before she dragged herself out, dripping and smelling like trash. Even outside, people stared. On the street, they covered their noses when she passed, whispering. Her eyes were red. Her face was swollen from crying too much. Her chest hurt. When she finally got home, Amanda — her mother — looked at her in disbelief. "Lily! What happened to you?!" She ran to hug her, but stopped halfway. The smell forced her back. That moment broke Lily the most. Even her own mother could not hug her. Lily stood with her head down, ashamed. Tears rolled down without permission. Amanda managed to get close, even though the awful smell made her nose sting. She placed a hand on Lily's shoulder, her eyes full of worry. "Jennifer still bullies you, right? Tell me the truth." "No," Lily quickly moved away, her voice shaking. "I... I fell. We just argued." "Lily, you are twenty! You have been letting Jennifer bully you since you were six! Since you were little girls!" "It's okay. We are friends. We just... we fight sometimes," Lily coughed, lying. Her heart was beating fast. She was protecting the same girl who ruined her. Amanda brought out her phone, her hand shaking with anger. "I'm calling Jennifer's mother right now." Lily panicked immediately. Her eyes widened. "What are you doing? No, don't! Please stop! Mom please!" She rushed to her mother and held her hand, pleading like a baby. Her tears fell on her mother's hand. Amanda looked at her daughter's face — that begging, broken look. That look of a girl who has been suffering in silence for years. She couldn't ignore it, so she hung up. "Can I at least speak to someone from your school?" "No. I can handle it. Please, just leave it." "You said the same thing when you were fifteen, Lily," Amanda sighed, her heart heavy. Lily said nothing. She just walked upstairs, leaving Amanda downstairs, watching her with a worried heart. She got upstairs and sat on the bathtub. Cold tiles. Cold heart. Thoughts filled her mind. Why is her life like this? Why her? What did she ever do? She was too good for this. Too quiet, too kind. She never fought anyone. She looked at the side mirror and admired herself through tears. Even broken, she was still beautiful. But nobody saw that. She bathed slowly, scrubbing her skin hard, as if she could wash away the shame, and went back to her room. She sat on the bed, book open for her exams tomorrow. But the words were blurry. She couldn't read. Her mind was too noisy. Just then, her phone buzzed. Jennifer: "You won't believe this pig but ur trending" Lily gasped. Her heart stopped. Her hands shook violently as she checked the internet. Jennifer had already posted the video. It was going viral. 10k views in one hour. The comments were cruel. "Expel her!" "She's shameless!" "Ew smelling pig!" "Why does she even attend school sef?" The shame. The embarrassment. It was too much. She burst out crying. Her hand clutched her chest so tight, she thought her heart would stop. She was in so much pain, she couldn't breathe. Her life was definitely over at this point. Just then, her finger scrolled and she saw her model, Mars. Mars was glowing. So beautiful. So confident. Living a luxurious life, married to a Mafia boss who adored her. He took her everywhere, bought her anything, protected her from everyone. While Lily, on the other hand, couldn't even get her crush to look at her. When she told him how she felt, he had laughed in her face. "You? Liking me? Look at yourself." She lowered her head and cried even more, her shoulders shaking. Wishing there could be a turn in her life. Wishing she could meet a Mafia boss who would love her and take care of her. Someone who would look at Jennifer and say, "Nobody touches what's mine." And now, Jennifer had ruined her completely. Lily could not sleep at night. She tossed and turned on her bed, staring at the ceiling. How would she face anyone at school tomorrow? What would happen to her? Would everyone laugh? Would they show her the video in class? Unfortunately for her, even the night was not in her favor. The sun came up quicker than she expected. She sluggishly dragged herself from the bed and prepared for school. Her eyes were puffy. Her heart was heavy. She went downstairs. Amanda had already prepared breakfast. The smell of tea and bread filled the kitchen. "You look better," Amanda smiled and kissed Lily's forehead. That kiss made Lily want to cry again. Her mother was so sweet, but she didn't know anything. Lily sat and ate her meal quietly. She didn't tell her mother about the trending video. How could she? Her chest was heavy with the secret. Every bite felt like stone in her throat. Amanda took a sip of her tea and looked at her. "Your exams will finish tomorrow, right?" Lily nodded, not looking up. "The family wants to do a little get-together. So you will join them and your cousins at your great-grandma's place." Lily looked up, confused. "But great-grandma is no more." Amanda choked on her meal. "No, silly! Not from your dad's side. From mine!" Lily managed to laugh a little. The first small laugh since yesterday. "Oh sorry, Mom. I didn't know she was still up and well." Amanda giggled and bit her bread. "She is very strong and kicking!" Lily sighed. Her smile faded. "But do I have to go? I mean, the rest of the family will be there to look after her." "Lily, yes, you have to go," Amanda said softly but firmly. "And you already said it, the rest of the family will be there. Your absence will be a big blow to their faces. They want to see you." "We can just tell them we are busy," Lily suggested, hoping. Amanda frowned. Her voice changed. "Young lady, I was not asking you to go. I'm telling you, you're going. We are going. So when you get back from school today, start packing your bags." Lily hesitated for a while. She wanted to argue. She wanted to say no, she wanted to hide in her room forever. But she saw the seriousness in her mother's eyes. Then she nodded and continued eating her meal, her heart beating fast again.