Come up to that person, talk to them, do that small act of kindness, you never know what they might be going through.
Rays of sunshine fell on Rose's chaotic room. She was late. It wasn't the first time but she was still tense. She rushed to the bathroom and got ready. While brushing her golden hair and putting on a new necklace, she could hear her Mom yell:
"Rose, you're late again, hurry up!" Rose ignored her, but deep down knew something she couldn't yet admit; Mother was right. She changed into the school uniform that complimented her hourglass build, took the toast from the table and ran to the car. Her Mother followed her from behind, muttering something about children.
The moment Rose stepped into school, she was surrounded by the students. That's how it was with the popular kids. Over the course of her life, she has met many people, yet a handful became true friends. That day she heard a bunch of rumors about a new girl. None of them were nice, half of them expected from this generation.
"Geek! Nerd! Weirdo!" they constantly repeated. Rose didn't know this girl and she was confused at first. She didn't care. She laughed like she always did and went on.
As Rose was late, lunch break came faster than usual. Rose sat with her friends in everything but silence. Sometimes it would overwhelm her. She zooned out and glanced at the table next to her. Someone ate their lunch alone. Normally, it wouldn't bother her. She wouldn't care about people she didn't know. But that time, she felt something weird in her stomach.
Who was this girl? Was she the new student everyone kept talking about?
Rose continued watching her. She wasn't really eating. She was lonely. Rose felt bad. She wanted to talk to her but was afraid her friends would judge her.
Be the reason someone believes good people still exist, her Mother used to say. After that though she didn't hesitate any longer. Standing up and approaching the person, Rose heard her friends' whispers behind. They probably made fun of her. That fact made her confidence collapse, but nothing could stop her right now. As Rose's shadow covered the table the new girl was at, Rose could see the new girl probably thinking about getting judged. But even though Rose was popular, stunning blondie, she was never a bully.
"Hey! Um.. I'm Rose, um.. You must be new here?" Rose said awkwardly.
"If you're here to make fun of me, please leave" , the girl said quietly.
That made Rose's hands tremble slightly. If she wasn't born persistent, she would've left by now. Rose never wanted people to think she was something she wasn't.
"No, I'm here to make friends.. if you'd like?" Rose continued.
The girl didn't answer so Rose kept going. "So, what's your name?"
The girl hesitated, "Caden."
"Wow, never heard of that name, it sounds special! I'm Rose." Rose was honest.
The girl nodded. She didn't talk anymore. And Rose didn't force her to. She just sat there until lunch break finished. Their paths separated again.
After Rose came back and joined her group she got asked many questions.
"You told her she is a mistake, right?" someone asked.
"You made her more insecure, right?" someone else asked.
Her friends thought she bullied Caden and Rose didn't deny it. She didn't want problems or drama just yet.
The next day Rose wasn't late. Actually, she was early. While sitting on the bench with two really good friends, she caught Caden looking.
"Do you think we should go sit with her?" Rose asked, unsure of the consequences.
Annie, one of the two girls, looked at her with disgust in her gaze, and said, "You seriously want to sit with her?
Rose's eyes widened. Now she was more furious than scared. "You've got a problem?"
"I thought we were better than that." Annies eyes said enough.
"And I thought we were better than whatever this is," Rose let that sink in their minds. Silence followed. Not awkward, heavy.
"I mean, if you really want to talk with her, go on, we're skipping this time." The other girl, Marie, said. They left without hesitation. Rose was alone. Two of her best friends left her. Why? Because of kindness.
Rose stood up, though, and walked to meet Caden. She was still sitting on the opposite bench.
"Hey, how are you?" Rose asked that ordinary question because she didn't know how else to start a conversation.
"I'm fine" , Caden shyly answered. Rose was happy to hear anything from her. Caden seemed much more talkative and free, and not so cramped. Rose nodded.
"Is there anything you'd like to talk about?" Rose kept going.
But this time Caden didn't answer. She just turned her face towards the plant in one corner. Rose looked at the same plant, and said: "Do you like Peace Lilies?"
Caden waited a little, actually shocked Rose noticed, "I do. Mama used to plant those. The house felt full."
"She doesn't anymore?" Rose asked, then.
"She has different interests now." Caden smiled.
"Any examples-" Bell rang and stopped and it was time to go to class. Caden stood up first and rushed.
Rose started walking to the class, too, but then saw Caden next to the vending machine. She bought Snickers bar.
Rose thought it must be her favorite snack.
Two hours later Rose stood in front of Caden's locker with ten Snickers bars in her hands. She was shaking because of happiness and excitement she felt. Caden's locker was slightly opened, so Rose, so proud of herself now, slipped the bars in quickly. She was just about to leave when she saw a little note that has fallen out.
She shouldn't have read it. It was terrifying.
Well, oh gosh.
Namely, the note said things no person should ever say to themselves. Some horrible things. She planned on doing some stuff not person should ever do to themselves. Rose was left speechless. It hit her like a truck. She broke out in a cold sweat.
How couldn't she see the strugle? How couldn't she notice?
She put the paper back in the locker pretending she didn't see it, but on the inside, she was overwhelmed by a storm of emotions.
Rose walked away, joining her friend group again, which, this needs to be mentioned, started accepting Caden slowly after all. But not because they knew her, but because their popular girl Rose started spending time with her so, they said, she must've been cool. Anyways, Rose left, making sure Caden doesn't see her or her surprise.
After the third period, Caden finally checked her locker and saw something she never expected from anyone. She looked around, trying to find the kind soul that made her day lighter, but there was no one nearby. Caden's eyes started watering. They shone so bright even the Sun couldn't help but collapse. She was so insanely joyful, she had never felt this seen. It wasn't hard to guess who it was from. This was from the person she never was really supposed to even talk to. The popular kid, the kid with the perfect life, a hundred levels above her. The kid who was never supposed to see her. But it turns out she was only seen by her.
This small act, that cost nothing, completely changed Caden's life. Took nothing, meant everything. Caden fell into bigger, heavier tears.
The next day, Caden looked so much more complete. When Rose walked into school, she saw Caden talk to some students. A smile climbed up Rose's face. She went on to put some books in her locker, and while walking ahe saw Caden's locker half opened again. This time there were no bars, there was only another, small, crumpled piece of paper. Rose unwrapped it slowly, carefully.
"I trapped myself in my own misery" , it said. Rose shook of the thought, but kept reading. "until you showed me life is worth living. I met this girl, Valeria, yesterday. She seems really nice. I won't be a burden to you anymore. And sorry for being the way I was. I was never treated like that before. I don't even know what to say, I'm bad at writing. So, I hope the best things happen to you. But if you ever want to meet, though, here's my number." Caden left her phone number under. And finished with, "thank you. Caden."
Rose's Mother used to say:
You are only as pretty as you treat people.
When you can't find light, be it.
In a world where you can be anything, be kind.