My name is Emily I am eighteen years old, I’m a typical teenager entering the world of new adulthood who is just as kind as can be and well open-minded, caring, and accepting. However a couple of years ago I wasn’t the same. You can say I’ve grown or matured, I was the girl who picked on people less fortunate than me made fun of the girls who didn’t well...look like me and act like me. I always thought it was a choice a choice for them to look and dress like that never thinking that maybe it wasn’t.
One day early in the year of 2005 I came across a girl named Tabatha short, skinny, big glasses, and well I think she had the worst teeth I had ever seen nor did she shower. I had to sit by her in history I was so upset I thought the teacher had done it on purpose. I made fun of her everyday I wanted to be moved so bad. I remember one day distinctly she smiled at me, it was one of the warmest smiles I had ever seen like a real smile. A lot of people always smiled at me but they just seemed so fake. Even though I should have smiled back I didn’t I yelled at her and told her to stop starring. Everyone laughed at her. So I laughed too.
Inside I felt so bad this feeling was so unusual I never felt bad for anything I said. Later that night I was on the phone with my boyfriend when I heard the doorbell ring I thought it was one of the girls so I ran to the door. It was Tabatha crying, asking if she could come in. I let her in and took her to my room so bewildered I asked what was going on? This is what she said:
“My family is poor, I’ve been molested since the age of seven and I have no friends no one to talk to I’m sorry if I don’t have pretty hair or teeth or pretty clothes. My family does not have money for that, please stop making fun of me. My mom’s handi-cap and my dads in prison for what he did to me. I’m sorry I smiled at you I was wrong but please don’t hate me anymore. I promise I wont sit close to you Ill ask to move.” she cried hysterically as I just listened to her and took all of this in. I didn’t know how to react. “Please Emily” she whispered “don’t tell anyone.”
Tears streamed down my face I felt like a monster I felt so horrible there was this innocent girl in front of me that has been through so much in her life and I had no clue she was suffering at home as well as at school.
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