Aurora's POV
The world had always been hostile to me.
The first time I knew I was completely on my own, I was seven. By then, I had already learned that silence was safer than words and that keeping my head down meant fewer bruises for me.
Neither the teachers, the foster parents, nor the kids cared enough to put a stop to the ones who tormented me.
I had no parents. No real home. Just a mattress in a cramped foster house where I was an unwelcome fugitive.
The other kids didn't welcome me to their world. They insulted me, stole my possessions, and shoved me when no adults were watching.
The strongest played games at my expense. Sometimes, they were kicking out my legs in the hallway. Other times, it was holding me down and shoving dirt in my mouth, laughing as I choked. I had learned not to cry. Tears only made them worse.
I walked through the school gates with my head down, staring at the pavement. Another day, another dollar or, rather, another day, another chance to get bullied.
I hated this school, hated the kids who derived pleasure from making my life a living hell.
As I walked down the hallway, I could feel their eyes staring at me.
I could hear the snickering and whispers. I started to walk faster, and my heart raced in my chest.
Why did they have to be so mean?
I took a corner and collided with a horde of kids led by the dreaded Tiffany. She was a petite blonde with a mile-wide mean streak.
"Hey, would you look at that? What do we have here?" Tiffany sneered, her gaze raking over me. "Geez, It's the little orphan Aurora, all alone in the world."
Her minions laughed. I attempted to push past her, but she blocked my path. "Hey, where are you rushing off to? Don't you want to spend time with us?"
I shook my head, trying to hold it together. "No, I don't think so."
Tiffany snarled at the top of her lungs. "Oh, come on, Aurora. We just want to be nice! Don't be such a loner."
I knew what she was trying to do. She was poking me, trying to get a reaction. But I wasn't going to let her win.
"I'd rather be a loner than a bully," I replied, keeping my voice steady.
Tiffany reacted with a flush of fury. "Oh, you think you're so clever, don't you?" she spat. "Well, here's what happens to people who cross me.
She moved a hand up, and I flinched, waiting for the strike. But instead, she merely laughed and left, her cronies scurrying in her footsteps.
I breathed a sigh of relief, watching them leave. That was close.
The further down the hall I walked, the more unsettled I became. I hated this place.
Why did school have to be compulsory?
I had no choice. I had to come here, to endure the bullying and the teasing.
But there was one thing that continued to drag me through the shit show of pain and suffering. His name was Ethan Reed, and he was the most gorgeous boy I'd ever seen.
I had loved him since what felt like the beginning of time, but had never been brave enough to tell him. I was too afraid of being rejected, too afraid of being hurt.
He was different. I couldn't have picked anybody better than him. Out of everybody who had laughed at me.
I had no idea what to do with the feelings I felt for him. He made me feel safe. When the others looked at me with hate, he didn't. He rarely looked at me, but he didn't try to hurt me.
He wasn't a hero. He never stopped them. But he also never joined in. And that was enough for my foolish heart to cling to the dream that perhaps, he saw me as a person.
It was a ridiculous hope. I knew it. Ethan was all the things I wasn't.
He was popular, powerful, with a laid-back charm. He was fancied by all the girls competing for his affections.
The boys followed his lead. And me? I was the thrash no one wanted to admit existed.
But I was tired of being unseen.
So for the first time in my life, I did something reckless.
I wrote him a letter.
It wasn't much. Only a few shakily-written words on a wrinkled piece of paper.
I had rewrote it so many times my fingers hurt from squeezing the pen too tightly. It was scary; each word was a risk, each sentence emerging from my soul. But ultimately, I decided to keep it simple.
Ethan, I don't think you are going to feel the same way, but I just wanted you to know…I like you. And even if you'll never see me, that's just fine. I love you anyway. You are truly the brightest light in the dark.
I tucked the letter away carefully, flattening it against my palm as I stood outside the school locker room. The halls were empty. This was the perfect time. I had planned this moment to the second.
My fingers tightened around his locker, shaking when a voice cut through the silence.
"What do we have here?"
I froze.
I had hardly begun to react when calloused hands seized the letter from me. I spun around, my heart dropping as a familiar smirk twisted on Derek's face.
Derek Cole. My worst nightmare. He was a whole lot worse than Tiffany.
His usual pack of vultures which included Ryan, Jacob, and Trent circled behind him like hungry wolves. Derek unfolded the letter and scanned the words with his dark eyes. And then he laughed.
I lunged for it. "Give it back."
He held it out of reach. "A love letter? To Ethan?"
The group burst out with laughter.
"She actually believes she can win," Ryan mocked.
"She must be delusional," Jacob spoke after Ryan.
Derek stepped closer, amusement still gleaming in his eyes until it turned cruel. "Let's make this fun."
My gut twisted and I stepped back. I knew what was coming. I had experienced this shame but nothing compared to this incoming embarrassment.
I aimed for the letter again and missed.
Derek was quick, and twisted my wrist viciously. Pain lanced up my arm, but I bit my lip to suppress a cry. I definitely didn't want to give them that satisfaction.
"I think Ethan needs to read this," Derek said, mock waving the letter. "Don't you?"
"Don't…" I begged.
I had hardly gotten the word out before Trent pushed me hard. I stumbled backward, smashing into the lockers with a loud boom.
Storming over to Trent, I slapped him hard on the cheek, kicked him squarely in the balls, and left him clenching his groin in agony. He slumped to the floor, groaning.
"You stupid…argh," he grunted.
Before I could get my footing, Derek's fist hit me in the stomach.
I experienced a horrible pain in my stomach and my knees bent. I gasped for air, but another blow came, this time across my face. The world blurred. And blood filled my mouth.
They didn't stop.
The impact on my body from their fists, kicks and annoying laughter with the metal lockers.
I curled in on myself, my arms over my head, but it didn't help. They were relentless. Blood filled my mouth and my vision dimmed, yet still I didn't cry.
I wouldn't let them see me cry.
Finally, the blows stopped. I laid there, motionless, my whole body screaming in agony.
Derek crouched next to me, his breath warm against my ear. "Stay in the shadows where you belong, freak."
With that, they were gone. My ragged breathing was the only sound I could hear.
I didn't know how long I lingered there. Maybe minutes. Maybe hours. But after a while, I made myself sit up.
I was shaking. My body ached. My face throbbed. I had a split lip, and my nose felt broken. But none of that mattered.
The letter was gone.
By the following morning, everyone had read it.
I entered the school, hearing laughter. Mocking voices rang down the halls. They didn't even pretend to disguise it and discussed it as I walked past.
"Like Ethan would ever look at her."
"She's Pathetic. She's not even that pretty. Look at all those bruises and she's so goddamn poor and dirty."
"Yeah, she ought to do everyone a favour and die."
"She's coming. Look at her." That was followed by rounds of laughter.
Ethan read the letter standing by his locker. His face was unreadable. For an instant, hope ignited in my chest.
Then, he crumpled it up and threw it in the trash.
And something inside me broke.
I turned and ran out of the school and away from the gossip. Away from everything. My vision hazed over with unshed tears as I staggered outside, the icy air searing my lungs.
Then I heard a blaring horn. It was very close and followed by the screeching tires getting louder I looked up and a trick was headed straight for me.
And I gasped, unable to even move as they turned on the headlights over my pupils and my body flew from the force of the car and screamed.
I fell to the floor, my words dying in my mouth as I choked on my own blood, and nothing came out of my lips.
"Shit. Someone call an ambulance!" Someone yelled.
"Oh my gosh! She's bleeding! Someone help!" another yelled.
I heard footsteps rushing to me.
My eyes stayed still, gazing at the sunlight until it got brighter and finally nothing.