The sun had barely risen, but Elena was already awake, staring at the ceiling of her dorm room. The weight of yesterday’s events clung to her like a heavy fog. Her father’s cruel words echoed in her mind, sharper and colder than any insult Mia had ever thrown her way. “Call that bitch here. I’ll sell her off to those debtors.” The memory of it sent a shiver through her.
Her chest felt tight as she sat up, clutching her blanket to her chest. The thought of being a burden to her family gnawed at her soul. How could her father see her as something to trade away? She had always thought she was part of their family, not just some object to clear a debt.
Elena wiped her cheeks, realizing fresh tears had begun to fall. “Enough,” she whispered to herself, her voice shaky. She didn’t have the luxury of breaking down. She had to fight, for herself, if not for anyone else.
That morning, as she stepped onto campus, whispers followed her. The stares, the muffled laughter, and the knowing glances cut into her like knives. Students looked at her, then at their phones, and smirked. Her heart clenched, but she held her head high.
“She doesn’t even look ashamed,” one girl muttered, loud enough for Elena to hear.
“I never thought she’d be like this,” another added, her voice dripping with false sympathy.
Elena bit the inside of her cheek, forcing herself not to react. She wouldn’t give them the satisfaction of seeing her hurt.
As she walked toward the library, her pace quickened. She didn’t want to be around people any longer than necessary. But just as she turned the corner, she bumped into someone, nearly dropping her books.
“Whoa, easy there!” A warm, friendly voice greeted her.
Looking up, she saw a tall guy with messy brown hair and kind eyes. He bent down, picking up the book she had dropped.
“Thanks,” she muttered, avoiding eye contact.
“Are you okay?” he asked, his tone genuinely concerned. “You look… like you’ve had a rough day.”
Elena hesitated, unsure if she should trust a stranger. “Just tired,” she said finally, hugging her books close.
“I’m Ethan, by the way,” he said with an easy smile. “If you ever need someone to talk to or help with anything, just let me know.”
She nodded, mumbling a quiet “thanks” before walking away. His kindness felt like a small ray of sunlight breaking through the storm cloud over her.
Later that day, Elena found herself crossing paths with Mia and her gang in the cafeteria. The smug look on Mia’s face made Elena’s blood boil. She had spent so long being silent, letting Mia walk all over her, but the anger simmering inside her refused to stay quiet.
“Mia,” Elena said firmly, stepping closer.
Mia turned, arching an eyebrow. “Well, look who decided to grow a spine.”
“I’m done with your games,” Elena said, her voice steady. “I won’t let you humiliate me anymore.”
Mia laughed, her friends joining in. “Oh, sweetheart, you think you can stop me? That’s cute.”
Elena clenched her fists. “You don’t scare me anymore.”
The cafeteria had gone silent, students watching the confrontation with wide eyes.
But before Elena could say more, her phone buzzed in her pocket. She hesitated, then pulled it out. Seeing her mom’s name on the screen, she stepped away from the crowd, answering the call.
“Mom?” she said quietly.
“Elena,” her mother’s voice trembled. “Are you okay? You haven’t called.”
“I’m fine, Mom. What’s going on?”
There was a long pause. Then, in the background, she heard her father’s voice, loud and cruel. “What are you talking to her for? Tell that useless girl to come here. If she’s no good to us, at least we can sell her to the debtors!”
Elena froze, her heart dropping. “What did he just say?” she whispered.
Her mother panicked. “It’s nothing, Elena! Don’t listen to him, he’s just-”
But the line went dead, her mother cutting the call in fear.
Elena stood there, her phone clutched tightly in her hand. Her legs felt weak, and her chest ached as if someone had punched her. The world around her seemed to blur as tears welled up in her eyes.
She stumbled out of the cafeteria, ignoring the whispers and stares. Her father’s words echoed in her head. “Sell her off. Useless. She owes us.”
Reaching a quiet corner of campus, she collapsed onto a bench, burying her face in her hands. Sobs wracked her body as the weight of everything came crashing down.
“How can they think of me like that?” she whispered to herself. “I’m their daughter. I’ve tried so hard to make them proud. How can I be so worthless to them?”
Her mind raced with unbearable thoughts. Maybe her father was right. Maybe she was nothing more than a burden. She had no money, no family to turn to, and no one who truly cared.
But then, a spark of anger ignited within her. She wasn’t worthless. She had worked hard to get where she was, earning her scholarship through her own efforts. She wasn’t just some object to be traded away.
Elena wiped her tears, her hands trembling. “I won’t let them break me,” she whispered fiercely.
She pulled out her phone, searching for part-time jobs near the campus. She didn’t care what it was-waiting tables, working in a store, anything that could help her become independent.
After a few minutes, she found a listing for a waitress position at a nearby diner. It wasn’t glamorous, but it was a start. She jotted down the number, determined to call them as soon as possible.
“I’ll find a way,” she said to herself, her voice steady. “I won’t let them control me anymore.”
As the day ended, Elena felt exhausted but strangely lighter. She had made a decision-to fight for herself, no matter how hard it was.
Walking back to her dorm, she saw Ethan sitting on a bench, reading a book. He looked up and smiled when he saw her.
“Hey, Elena,” he said. “You okay?”
She hesitated, then nodded. “Getting there.”
“Good,” he said. “Remember, you’re stronger than you think.”
His words warmed her heart, a small reminder that not everyone in the world was cruel.
As she lay in bed that night, her father’s voice still haunted her, but so did Ethan’s. One was filled with bitterness, the other with hope.
And for the first time in a long time, Elena chose to hold onto hope.