Ficlets

Breaking the Confident

Walking down the hall, head held high, I feel as if nothing could break me. I look great, at least I think so. I get stares left and right.

But they aren’t friendly. I just let them bounce off, letting my confidence radiate. But after a while, the sideways glances, the whispers, laughs, and full out stares start wearing me down. Bit by bit, me shelter crumbles around me, and I start shrinking into myself until I can take no more. I flee into the bathroom and look in the mirror…what have I done wrong? I just moved here, I can’t have done anything yet. Just then the bathroom door opens and Sarah, my only friend so far walks in.

“Hey, you okay?” she asks.

“No, you know what, I’m not okay. What have I done, I don’t even know these people and they’re already out to get me!”
I scream at her until I look at her face, scared and sympathetic. “God I’m sorry, this isn’t your fault. Do you know anything, what have they been saying?”

“Well there’s this rumor…” she starts hesitantly.

View this story's 3 comments.