The Silent Battle
But even being the best at something wasn’t enough.
The scholarship results had come in last week. She wasn’t even considered.
It didn’t matter that her grades were perfect. That her name sat at the top of every scoreboard. The principal had only looked at her with thinly veiled distaste when she asked about it.
Principal
“A student’s attitude matters as much as their academics, Millicent. We can’t reward… problematic behavior.”
She had swallowed back her words then. There was no point in arguing. No point in proving herself to people who had already made up their minds.
The fact that the tales spread by her little sister spread like a rapid fire and even the principal is acknowledging it even before listening to her view point. She could sense the source....
No other than her beautiful STEP MOM can do that... OFF COURSE..
This is what everyone thinks... But she doesn't mind it all even if everyone was like this... Except for one person.... That was enough for her...
Ms. Rachelle
“Millicent,” a gentle voice pulled her from her thoughts.
She turned to find her mathematics teacher watching her with the same knowing look as always. Ms. Rachelle didn’t ask if she was okay. She already knew the answer.
Instead, she slid a book onto Millicent’s desk. A thick, heavy textbook filled with problems far beyond their syllabus.
Ms. Rachelle
“You finished the last set of practice questions in record time,” she said with a small smile.
Ms. Rachelle
“I think you’re ready for the next level.”
Millicent Gertude
(Millicent ran her fingers over the cover.)
Millicent Gertude
"Thank you Ms. Rachelle.." A small smile ran on her face…
No one else believed in her. No one else saw her.
She wanted her to take the exam—the one her parents had forbidden. She was convinced that Millicent could get into any college with a full scholarship if she just had the chance.
And Millicent believed it too.
That was why she studied in secret, solving equations long after the house had fallen asleep. That was why she met Ms. Rachelle after school, preparing for something her family would never approve of.
Because this was her last hope.
Her last chance to prove—to her father, to the world, to herself—that she wasn’t who they said she was.
Failure wasn’t an option.
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