Her Destiny

“Help me! Help me!” I could feel my eardrums tearing as I was running for my life with all my will from him, my legs were giving up on me slowly. I turned around to see if he has given up but as I turned, I saw his hands trying to grab my shoulder which was few inches away. Right than I woke up from my dream grasping for air. I was soaked in my sweat and was in a state of shock that It took me a moment to realize that it was all just a dream.

As I was getting myself together, I could smell the scent of coffee beans that were ingrained in the air and the soothing classical music playing. I tried to forget about my dream and head on with my day. After a quick shower and got myself ready for the day and headed out to the kitchen. The kitchen was bustling with joy and music when I stepped in and from the entrance, I got a glimpse of my parents dancing to the music happily. According to many of my friends and relatives, my parents are the incarnation of Romeo and Juliet and I wouldn’t disagree with them because my parents have the love that never ages. my dad’s eyes always glisten when he looks at my mom. My dad’s eyes will be filled with love, respect, and amazement every time his eyes lay on her. They show me every day what kind of love one deserves.  

I greeted them with a smile and grabbed a toast for myself, today was my first day in the new school. Even though I have been jumping from one school to another since I was 5 years old, first day of school always excites me. I am Rabiya, the new girl in town.

The ride to school was very quiet but once I reached the school entrance, I could hear high school students happily chatting and running to class. I got through the crowd and got my locker keys and books from the office. On the way to my new locker I bumped into Helen the blond girl who looked like she has not eaten in days. ‘sorry, I didn’t see you there. I am Rabiya’ I waited for her response but all I got was a surprised look from her. it took her a moment to say ‘hi’. I wanted to make friends as soon as possible so that I will not have to have lunch alone. She told me her name was Helen and left.

I went for my class and the lessons were so plain that I slept for most of the hours and once the lesson was over, I was the first to leave the classroom. I was surprised to find Helen waiting for me in the hallway. She approached me and asked me if I wanted to have lunch with her. I could not deny it as I did not know anyone else there. I talked a lot during the lunch and Helen barely spoke. Some students around the table we sat at were giving me weird looks. It made me so uncomfortable, Helen must have sensed it. She said, ‘Student’s in melbourt high school don’t like newbies like you.’ I brushed that uncomfortable feeling away and started to enjoy my time with Helen.

two weeks have passed, I still have not found any other friend other than Helen. it has become a custom for me to have lunch with her every day. I still get weird looks when I walk through the hallway in school. I even hear some say ‘she must have mental health issues.’ When I walk past some students. I do not understand what they are talking about and it does not really matter to me either.

After a month of going to school, I was still having trouble socializing. on a sunny day there was a knock on the door, Mr. john stood there with a smile and I was surprised when I was called into the principal’s office.  My teacher was in the room along with the principal when I entered his office. tension and silence were filled in the room. My principal’s greetings to both me and my teacher broke the silence and the tension in the air.

‘Rabiya are you coping with school and have you found any friends so far?’ my principal asked me. I replied to him while wondering if I was in any trouble, ‘yes Mr. Paul, I am coping well in classes and I am friends with Helen. Is there any issue that I should be worried about?’. He looked very worried once I said it. The room went so silent at that it almost scared me. He took a moment to reply me but what he said pierced my heart and left my body shaking, ‘Helen, we know that you hallucinate sometimes when you are nervous. After reading your bio data, we have learned that your parents were killed when you were 5 years old and the murderer tried to attack you, but you got away from him. Isn’t that why you have been moving from one school to another? because you hallucinate and don’t socialize.’ Those words have not been spoken to me for years and finally hearing them again made me dizzy. My parents were killed on that night, I have always felt like I am still running away from this memory. ‘we have teachers and students telling us that you have been talking to yourself during lunch breaks. There is no Helen in this school. Rabiya, we want to help you overcome this.’ It finally hit me hard that I have been living a fake life that I made to forget everything. I fell to the ground once I realized, I am powerless as I am not even capable of controlling my hallucinations. No one can help me; I am powerless in front of my past.