As time passed, Lizza’s emotional state gradually became more unstable. Although Mike was constantly providing support and care, the isolation and exclusion from her classmates still shadowed her, deeply oppressing her spirit. She felt like a small boat swaying in a storm, at any moment ready to be swallowed.
At night, Lizza lay in bed, her thoughts in disarray, unable to sleep. She felt a deep sense of helplessness, tears welling up once again. To hide her pain, she locked herself in her room, trying hard not to let anyone see her vulnerable side. As time went on, these emotions intensified, and she even began to experience self-doubt and thoughts of self-harm. Once, she accidentally cut her hand at home, and upon seeing the blood flow, she suddenly felt a release, as if physical pain could mask the pain of her soul. She realized how wrong this behavior was, yet she couldn’t extricate herself from it.
A few days later, during a lunch break, Lizza sat in the classroom, feeling heavy-hearted. She couldn’t concentrate; the textbooks in front of her became blurry, and the sound of the lecture gradually faded. Watching her classmates whispering to each other, a painful sense of exclusion rose involuntarily in her heart. Her hands unconsciously clenched, her nails digging into her palms, yet it couldn’t alleviate the anxiety and unease within her.
Just as she wanted to escape this unpleasant emotion, she overheard her classmates’ low whispers, mentioning her name. “Lizza is really strange; she clearly has the teacher’s care but still performs so poorly…” A sentence pierced her heart like a sharp sword, making her feel even more wronged.
She tried hard to suppress these negative emotions but found herself unable to escape. After school, Lizza sat on the rooftop of the school, the scenery before her picturesque, yet the gloom in her heart could not dissipate. At that moment, all the grievances and pressures surged like a tide, making it hard for her to breathe. She cradled her head, letting the tears fall.
By the usual time to go home, Mike had been waiting at the bus stop for a long time but still hadn’t seen Lizza’s figure. As time passed, a sense of unease gradually rose in his heart. When he tried to call Lizza’s phone, he found it couldn’t be connected, which made him even more anxious. “What if something happened?” Mike thought to himself, and then made a decision. He quickly ran towards Lizza’s school, wanting to find her in person. Upon arriving at the school gate, he searched around, his eyes filled with worry and anxiety. Soon, he reached the bottom of the teaching building and noticed a figure there; his heart tightened, and he hurriedly rushed in that direction.
As he got closer, he realized it was Lizza. She was sitting alone by the railing, her face wearing a vacant expression, seemingly gazing at the distant sky. Mike’s heart jolted, filled with anger and concern. Without thinking much, he immediately pulled her away from the railing.
“What are you doing?!” Mike asked urgently, his voice laced with anxiety and pain. “Why haven’t you gone home so late?”
Lizza was taken aback, a flicker of surprise crossing her eyes, but then she fell back into a low mood. She didn’t know how to respond, merely lowering her head in silence, allowing tears to fall once more. Seeing her like this, Mike felt a sharp pain in his heart, growing even more distressed.
“How can you just sit here like this? If something’s wrong, just tell me!” Mike’s tone softened, yet it still carried a strong concern. He gently held Lizza’s hand, hoping to convey his presence in this way.
Lizza lifted her head, her tears blurring her vision, “I… I really don’t know what to do; everything is causing me pain.” Her emotions surged like a tidal wave, uncontrollably spilling out to Mike.
Mike listened silently, determined in his heart to help her through this difficult time. He held her hand tightly, as if to tell her: no matter what happens, he would be with her, never leaving.
