Splash. Laughter. Pointing fingers. They all led to me. Just when I thought that grade eight could get better, that a fresh start could wipe my plate clean, it just gets worse. And that worse continues to where I am now. I'm soaking wet, my jeans, my jacket. My hands are bleeding from the rough concrete. Still they laugh at me. They laugh because they're all afraid that if they just step up to help me that they'll be where I am too. So they point. They laugh. And I watch. Blankly. The puddle looks up at me with a sad face. I smile down at it.

I stand up onto my feet. I open my eyes to see something that I have hoped for. The sad, guilty, sympathizing faces stare into my eyes. They understand, and they want to do something. But they're all afraid. Afraid that if they help me they'll get biten too. So I smile at them. To reassure them that it's okay. Then they nod back in approval. Somebody from the crowd pushes me over again. I fall, this time, my jeans ripping as I tumble. The puddle water fills my socks, and pours into my jeans. I still get up, and smile.

But.

Just.

Then.

A hand, white sleeves, and all clean reaches out to me. Stretching to hoist me up to my feet. They don't care how dirty and sloppy I am, they help me. I stand to my feet and look at that one human being who was brave. I look at him and I smile. He puts his arm around me reassuringly and walk me into the school. A couple others pile around me, finally managing to talk to me. The bully glares swearing that he'll eventually get us all, that he will find revenge. But then he's gone.

Surrounded by friendly faces we sit awkwardly yet peacefully in the hallways. I've changed into my gym clothes, and someone lent me their shoes. We all look at each other knowing that we will always have each other's backs. I look to my right to find a smile. I look to my left to find a grin so big it could light up the whole city. We all seem to look around sharing the same thought, that same feeling of safety, and generosity. I look around again. We're all among friends.

Walking home I don't worry. No bully can hurt me. No monster, no beast, not even the devil can harm me. I'm among friends. Those who would try to avoid me when the bully was near were all at my sides, walking together and for once I smile. For that one day of that entire year I smile. I smile yet I don't know why because I've never had this feeling before. Yet the bully follows. He gives us looks from across the street, he glares at each one of us and all we do is smile back.

I open the door and for the first time my house seems bright. I walk in the door to see my mum's tired but welcoming face only to realize that the moment she sees me she's surprised. She's surprised that I'm not depressed, or lonely or sad. I smile back. She seems to regain all the health that she has lost. She smiles back.

The next day is rainy but it's the friendly kind of rain. It's the kind of raindrops that make you think about where the next drop will be. It's light and welcoming, friendly almost, and I hop from a piece of dry sidewalk to another, playing hopscotch among the puddles. I'm so happy I acknowledge everything around me. Hello tree. Hello flower. Hello bench. I feel the excitement in my stomach knowing that today will be - different. Today will be new. Today I will have friends.

Then.

I.

Fall.

Onto the road, I see the headlights, and hear the blaring horn and that second seems like forever. I slowly collapse to the road, and that single car starts to slide. I see the driver panic, the sorry in his eyes. And the hit happens so fast I don't feel anything. There is silence.

Everything is hazy and blurry. I see a figure dart away. Each step brings splashes into the air. Each step turns the splashes into tears and blood of those he has harmed. Then he's gone. He flies around the corner, wiping his own tears and trying to drown them in laughter. Then he's gone. I lie there trying to know what happened. In the rain I lie, feeling every slow rain drop that falls onto me. The blood mixes with the water and the rain seems to cry on me, washing away the bits of pain. Everytime I try to move a jolt of extreme pain flashes through my body. A tear drop falls, only to be washed away by the hands of water which is now pouring down onto me.

Everytear drop is washed away. It's okay, the rain tells me. You're going to be fine, it tells me again. After waiting a couple seconds which seems like a millenium everything plays along, and there is no more rain telling me everything wiill be okay. I'm all alone.

The driver runs out. She has pretty brown hair, a hat, and red lips. She pulls my upper body up and starts to cry. She calls for help and she cries and she cries. She shouts at me, again and again, and she continues to cry. I don't know why, but she still cries. But the wind is here this time, and a gentle breeze blows away every droplet of tear, and the rain calms. The rain isn't worried anymore. It knows that I'm going to be fine, so instead, it clears the sky to reveal it's smile. I smile back too.

I hear the siren from far far away, and I smile at the lady. And I tell her. It's okay. It's okay. It's okay.

The cars pull up next to me, and the man in the white coat, stands over me with a worried face. I smile at him too. He smiles back, but it's a worried smile. A smile that notes my bravery. A stretcher pulls me up. I see my friends, rush towards me, and I do what I have always done. I smile.

They look at me with worried faces. The girl starts crying. I still smile back. I smile because I know I'm going to be okay.

How?



The rain told me.