"Your past does not define you. Every step you take to rise above it proves the power of who you are meant to be."
Kiekie's POV
I didn't answer him. I left him on the floor, crying his eyes out. I didn't feel any pity for him. I felt angry and hurt. All that he did to me was because of jealousy! All that he did was because of his so-called love for me. Chuck is selfish. Love isn't selfish!
I ran to the library in tears, where Cleopatra was. All eyes followed me as I ran through the hall, crying my eyes out.
When I reached the library, tears streaming down my face, Cleo rushed to me and pulled me into her arms, rubbing my back and whispering sorry. I knew we were creating a scene, but the librarian wasn't there—she had gone out for lunch and entrusted us with the library, since most students only came during assignments or test preparations.
I cried on Cleo's shoulder, messing up her uniform. That day, I really cried until my eyes were red and puffy—I couldn't see.
Cleo asked the principal for a sick excuse for me. Can anyone be more caring than her? No! She was all I needed. She was the best friend and sister I could ask for.
We went home to Cleo's house. I had some of my clothes there, and she told me to take a bath and rest in my room. After I woke up, she didn't ask what had happened. Cleo believed that if a person wants to heal, they will reveal their pain when ready. She didn't want to force me to share things I wasn't ready to reveal.
Later, I went out of my room to eat, and Cleo told me she had finished cooking. For a girl who had lived alone since she was twelve, she knew how to cook well and take care of her home.
That day, she prepared cassava leaves and rice. After we finished eating, she told me that the "National Periodic Competition" would begin next week. It was district versus district—then county versus county—city against city—until the finals. I hesitated. "I did win the district competition, but that doesn't mean I will be able to win a national competition," I said to Cleopatra.
She told me that no negative thoughts were allowed in her house. "I am a winner, and I should never feel like a loser," she said, drinking her water. "We become what we think—never imagine yourself as a loser or place yourself in a negative situation." She chewed on her chicken.
"Giving up should never be an option. You should never allow it to cross your mind. Every human being is made to fight. We fight against the bad situations in life and embrace the good ones. Never give up! Never say never! Never overlook yourself," she said, picking up her bowl and carrying it to the kitchen.
I sat at the table, thinking about what Cleo said. She was right. "Giving up should never be an option"—I was born to be a winner. I decided to participate in the national competition. This was my time to shine.
I knew the periodic table like the back of my hand. I knew every element, its atomic number, mass number, symbol, and category.
After two weeks at Cleo's house, my family came to visit. They said they were sorry for everything they had done to me. My sister apologized for being mean, and I told them I would think about it. I couldn't just forgive and forget the same day. That was impossible.
They agreed I could live at Cleo's. They also apologized to Cleo for insulting her and her late mother.
As for Chuck and his followers, I forgave them, but not him. During those weeks, Chuck did everything he could to help me.
I told him he had a lot of work to do to make up for the pain he had caused. Every day, Cleo helped me review the periodic table. We made a song for it, a dance for it. We played games with it. Cleo even made an animated video. We created flashcards I could study anywhere—in the library, in class, or in a vehicle.
We downloaded an app on my phone, and I studied with fun, love, and support.
It felt strange to see my family at Cleo's house almost every evening, helping me prepare. Every time they visited, they brought chocolate and all the sweets I loved. Sometimes, my mother would cook and bring food for us. It all felt like a dream.
Chuck and his followers helped in every step of the competition. I was grateful to God for what he had done.
After two months of stress, happiness, and fun, it was finally the finals.
I say stress because every week I visited different districts and counties to participate. I always came back as a winner. I had to attend interviews. People wanted my autograph on everything, as if I were a star. I even met a boy named Wonderful, whose parents had given up on him. His story is for Cleopatra to tell.
I say fun and happy because the people who had hurt me and healed me were there with me every step of the way. They took me to parks, like "The Invisible Park," and ice-cream shops like Sharks and Nice Ice-Cream. They bought tickets for me during competitions and teased me about my facial expressions whenever the judges were about to announce results.
Life was beautiful. During the finals, I emerged as the winner.
I was the first. I was awarded a scholarship to complete my studies in the United States.
I was awarded a university scholarship at Harvard School of Chemistry after I completed high school.
I now know that the greatest gift parents can give their children is their love and support.
This story may not have been that longest but i hope you learned a little lessons.
I know someone, somewhere is going through pains that others cannot see or understand.
But remember this there is always a light at the end of the tunnel.