”You Don’t Know Me” By: Maya Patel
“My life is hard,” that’s what everyone says “My life is hard,” that’s what everyone says. I walk in the hallways at school and that’s all I hear, people complaining about their lives. About how much homework they get or how they have no good clothes to wear even though they have a closet full of clothes. It annoys me how people take so much for granted and aren’t even one bit thankful for all they have. People think their lives are horrible but they don’t even begin to know what mine has become.
My life was absolutely amazing My life was absolutely amazing. I had an awesome big sister who I looked up to and I had two goofy parents who were very much in love. But my life went downhill just a couple of months ago when my sister got very sick, and went on to die. I feel alone after losing my role model and it doesn’t help that every time I go to school someone has something mean to say about me specifically two judgmental girls: Nicole and Olivia.
As I walk into school on a rainy spring morning I hope and pray that I don’t cross paths with Nicole or Olivia. I just have no energy to deal with their bullying today. Luckily I was able to make it through the day without seeing either of them; or so I thought. Just to my greatest fear as I went to my locker at the end of the day to grab my things and go home, I saw Nicole and Olivia walking my way. I tried to hide from their view but it was too late, they had seen me.
“Oh look who it is, Emily the loser kid,” mocks Nicole “Oh look who it is, Emily the loser kid,” mocks Nicole. “Bahaha you look so stupid; where did you get your clothes from? A trash bin?” smirks Olivia. “I hav…..,” I tried to speak but was rudely interrupted by Nicole, “stop; you don’t get to talk, you’re just a loser with no friends.” At this point, people in the hallways had started to crowd around me trying to listen in on what Nicole and Olivia were saying. I was getting discouraged, offended and agitated by what they were saying but I was trying to stay strong by not showing any of these emotions. Olivia goes on to say, “yea, you’re such a loner and you should just leave the school, it would be doing everyone a favor.” “Totally, just leave you’re a disgrace to everyone,” sneers Nicole. I have finally had enough with them assuming they know everything about me and can say these rude things. “STOP, you guys just need to stop. You know absolutely nothing about me,” I holler desperately trying to get them to stop harassing me. “Sorry but did you actually just speak to us that way?” snarls Olivia. “Yes I did,” I counter “because you guys have no right to treat me like trash, I am a human being and I have some bad things happening in my life right now and I don’t need you two bullying me on top of it, so just stop.” “Alright, let’s see what fake sad story you can come up with loser,” smirks Nicole.
By this point, I was almost in tears from mad frustration By this point, I was almost in tears from mad frustration. “First of all, you two can’t just assume that you know everything about everyone because you obviously don’t. Did you know that my older sister, my role model got sick and died a couple of months ago? Did you know that at this point in my life I have never felt so alone? Did you know that ever since my sister died, my parents have been neglecting me and have been fighting constantly? Did you know that I have been basically surviving on my own, having to go to the thrift store to get clothes because alone I can’t afford anything else? Did you know that every morning when I wake up, I just wish the day was already over? Did you know that having you two bully me just brings me down and makes me wish that I could just be invisible? Did you know that the reason I don’t have any friends is because I can’t deal with anyone else feeling pity for me? Obviously you didn’t know any of this or else you wouldn’t have assumed any of those things about me and you wouldn’t have begun to bully and harass me in the first place. Now, this doesn’t only go for me but it goes for everyone you talk trash about and bully. Don’t assume you guys know everything about everyone because you won’t truly know someone unless you have a chance to walk in their shoes.” By the time I finish this speech I am bawling and Nicole and Olivia were flabbergasted staring at me speechless.
“We’re so sorry Emily, we never meant any harm, please forgive us “We’re so sorry Emily, we never meant any harm, please forgive us!” begs Nicole and Olivia, “please, please, please!.” “I don’t want your pity apologies,” I reply, “just don’t ever treat anyone the way you treated me.” I then turn and walk away. I am feeling extremely embarrassed that I just shared my whole life story with many of my peers but above all that embarrassment I feel accomplished and proud that I stood up for myself and that I put Nicole and Olivia in their spots.
I do sincerely hope that Nicole and Olivia have learned their lessons and that they will never bully someone like they did to me. I never wish that kind of pain and embarrassment on anyone. Nicole and Olivia just needed to learn that in order to truly know someone you have to spend some time in their shoes and that you cannot just judge someone without truly knowing them.
THE END!