" My scar tells a story

They are a reminder of times

when life tried to break me, but failed

They are markings of where the structure of my character was welded".......Steve Maraboli

"God will not look over your medal, degrees or diplomas but for your scars" was the the sentence at the top of the page she was reading.

" Reading your usual trash again" another female blurted annoyingly before walking pass her.

****Ayra**** Claude was her name, dark skinned, tall and perfectly shaped....Yea....she had what they called figure 8 shape. But she had a very prominent disfigure... She was scarred, on her left cheek and that earned her a name Ayra scar coined from that of the popular Nigerian artiste Ayra Star.

"Leave me alone Alice" she said as she closed the book and stood up. "Oh! I'm so sorry madam, please pardon me". Alice - her younger sister said mockingly.

"Are you two ever going to get ready?? or do i have to leave without you both??"Duke their elder brother said in annoyance.And with that , they all went out of the house into the car and Duke drove them off to school.

The Claude's were a very happy family of five - a hardworking father ( Mr Claude), a career woman of a mom (Mrs Georgina Claude), and their beautiful children; Duke and Alice and the off child - Ayra.

She had a very beautiful name no doubt but the scar on her face was always a write off or turn off for the people who came close to her. Some mocked , others pitied, some even questioned - but was she bothered about that..oh yes...Yea she was but after a series of therapy sections with her new friend few months back she had learned to not let what others say bother her.

"Hello, beautiful"

"Hi, handsome" Ayra responded to her friend/therapist - Nathan.

Nathan had just joined them a term earlier and a boy; was a very handsome dude.

Nathan had natural blue eyes, his height was a wonder, he also had natural curly hair and crowned ut all up with a captivating smile. In Ayra's words "his parents were in good mood while making him".

When Nathan joined their school, as expected everyone was all over him and with his super brain most girls used coming to learn from him as an excuse to get closer to him. How then did this super handsome and intelligent dude get to be best friends with the scarred girl???.Well lets say fate did her a miracle.

Because of her friendship with Nathan the girls despised her alot and would love to use any slight opportunity to bully her. For this reason she most times ask her self if becoming friends with Nathan was the worst thing she has ever done cus it seems to have worsened the situation buh most times she remembered how he helped her trauma and can't help it.

She began to avoid Nathan so as to avoid misshapen.

it was few weeks to their exams,She was crying in the bathroom after being bullied amd insulted because of her scar as usual, when Nathan bumped into her;

"Are you okay??"he asked

" What arw you doing here?? go away" she said shocked to see him and scarred as well.

"Well this is the boys bathroom for your information and please i only want to help" Nathan said ever so calmly.

Oops!! It was when it dawned on her that she had mistakenly ran into the male restroom when she fled the cafeteria.

"I'm so sorry.......i......please..... I'm....." she stuttered

"Its okay " He said trying to calm her down but that was not even working. She knew going out the door was a suicide mission; not only would they mock her for her scars but for the silly mistake as well.

" How could you be so stupid" she thought.

"I'll go with you" he said interrupting her thoughts.

" What did you just say? you...."

"Yes I'll go out with you, i only came to get my book, i left it here earlier".

"No, don't worry . I'll be fine" she said shyly;

"Then lets go out together" he said stretching his hands to hold hers. She backed away and said ;

"Don't worry about me , I'll be fine. please just go"

"I'm not leaving here without you"

"Please don't make this harder for me" she pleaded.

"Then make this easier for me, take my hand and let's walk out together" he insisted.

They argued for a while until someone walked in and of course was shocked to see them. At this point , Nathan took her hand and dragged her out of the bathroom with him. Not only that , he walked her to the school gate. School was over for the day and she had her bag with her so he knew going home was what was left.

" So which way are you taking?? or is someone coming to pick you??" he asked her.

Their parents gave them money for transportation fare as they wouldn't be able to come pick them after school. But Alice would rather die than go home with her, plus she avoided people because of her scar thus she always walked home alone.

"I can go from here . Thank you" she said to him with her face down.

" Now that i think of it , I've actually seen tou before. You stay at the 8th Cliff street right???"

He was right , she usually sees him when he passes their house. Her room faced the gate so it was easy to see people down or across the road.Plus, she usually walks behind him and his crew. she never for once thought he took notice of her.

" Hello! can we start going home now?? he asked interrupting her thoughts.

" You want me to walk with you???" she asked.

" No, i want to walk with you" he said smiling.

" What about your friends??" she asked.

"They'll manage. I'm with my new friend".