CHAPTER 1 Rise and shine
“EZLYNN! EZLYNN! EZLYNN!”
The lights were blinding. The stage trembled beneath my heels. Somewhere in the chaos, someone waved a purple banner in the air — my favorite color.
Funny how things change.
I used to think growing up was something that just… happened to you.
My mum always said it was inevitable.
I just didn’t realise it would cost me everything I thought I needed to become who I am today.
Morning Mayhem
The sunlight peeked through the curtains, painting stripes across the floor. Ezlynn Rae groaned from under her blanket, the warmth of her bed refusing to let go. A soft knock echoed through her room.
“Rise and shine, Ezlynn. Time for school,” her mother’s voice called, gentle but firm.
Ezlynn grumbled, pulling the blanket tighter over her head. She didn’t want to go. Not today. Not ever.
Selena Rae stepped inside, quietly closing the door behind her. “Ezlynn, come on. You need to get ready.”
“I… I don’t want to,” Ezylynn muttered muffled under the blanket.
Selena knelt beside the bed, uncovered the blanket then brushed a stray strand of hair from her daughter’s face. “Why not, sweetheart? What’s going on?” Then she covered her face again.
Ezlynn hesitated, then mumbled, “They… they hate me at school.”
Selena raised an eyebrow. “Who hates you?”
“They… the people at school. They just… I don’t know… they think I’m too different.”
Selena’s lips curved into a small, knowing smile. “Different how?”
“I don’t know… maybe where I come from… maybe how I look… maybe everything,” Ezlynn said, her voice trembling.
Selena gently lifted the blanket and found the bed empty. She leaned down, peering under it. “Ezlynn?”
A small voice squeaked from the darkness under the bed. “Yes….. come out of the bed…”
Selena Rae held back a chuckle and helped pull her daughter into a sitting position. “Ezlynn, sit. Look at me. You need to go to school.”
“They hate me…” Ezlynn whispered again, hugging her knees to her chest.
Selena’s hand rested softly on her daughter’s shoulder. “There’s nothing wrong with where you come from. Nothing at all. People will sometimes not understand things that are different, but that doesn’t mean it’s wrong… and it certainly doesn’t mean they get to make you feel small. You are beautiful, talented, and strong. And one day, everyone will see that. For now, let them be… and you just be yourself.”
Ezlynn looked up at her mother, eyes wide, trying to soak in the words. Maybe… just maybe… today wouldn’t be so bad.
Reluctantly, Ezlynn climbed out of bed and went to get dressed. She made her way through the house, stopping at Mateo’s room.
“Mateo! Are you dressed yet?” she called.
No answer. She stepped inside—and then, a sudden splash of cold water hit her chest.
“AHHH! Mateo!” she shrieked, looking down at her soaked uniform. Mateo, standing there in his boxers, grinned mischievously, holding the small water gun like it was a weapon.
“Good morning, Ezlynn!” he laughed.
“Mom!!!!!!! Look at what Mateo did to my uniform!” she yelled, dripping wet.
Their mother rushed in, eyes wide, and gave Mateo a sharp tap on the head. “Mateo Rae! What have I told you about messing with your sister?”
Mateo shrugged, still giggling. “Just trying to help… a little.”
“Get dressed. Now,” their mother said firmly, then turned to Ezlynn. “For now, just let it dry a bit. You can pass it through the iron once it’s cooler. And go check on Adelina, please.”
Ezlynn nodded, muttering under her breath about Mateo’s antics as she made her way to her little sister’s room, already thinking about the long morning ahead.
Ezlynn knocked softly on Adelina’s door before stepping inside. What she found made her stop in her tracks. Adelina was sitting on the floor, surrounded by scattered makeup—blush, eyeshadow, and lip gloss smeared across the carpet—and her tiny face was streaked with tears.
“Adelina… what happened?” Ezlynn asked gently, kneeling beside her little sister.
Adelina pointed at a doll lying on the floor, its head separated from its body. “It’s broken! My dolly… It’s broken!” she wailed.
Ezlynn sighed, her heart twisting at the sight. “What do you want me to do about that, Adelina?”
She pointed at the doll’s head, her tears streaming. “Fix it! Please!”
Ezlynn hugged her shoulders, shaking her head. “I’m sorry, Adelina… I can’t fix this.”
Adelina’s cries escalated, loud and desperate. The door swung open, and their mother hurried in.
“Ezlynn! What did you do to Adelina?” she demanded, alarmed by the crying.
“Mom! I didn’t do anything!” Ezlynn protested, stepping back and gesturing at her sister. “Look at her face… It’s not me!”
“Oh, my goodness,” their mother muttered, rushing over. She knelt down and gently wiped the streaks of makeup from Adelina’s cheeks, murmuring soothing words.
Adelina held up the broken doll for their mother to see. “It’s broken!”
Their mother smiled softly, brushing Adelina’s hair from her tear-streaked face. “It’s okay, baby. Daddy will buy you a new doll. Now, get dressed for school.”
Adelina gave her the saddest little eyes, and their mother chuckled, already knowing exactly how to calm her. She scooped her up, hugging her tightly. “If you’re a good girl, I’ll give you more surprises later today,” she whispered, pressing a kiss to her head. Adelina’s face lit up with a tiny, relieved smile.
Ezlynn watched, amazed. “Mom… how do you do that? How do you always know what to say?”
Their mother straightened, brushing off her hands. “I guess I just got used to all three of you and your mayhem,” she said with a fond laugh.
Ezlynn shook her head, half in awe, half in disbelief. She glanced at Mateo and Adelina and thought about the chaos that seemed to follow them wherever they went. “I don’t know how you survive this every day,” she muttered.
Her mother smirked. “It’s all part of the adventure of raising you three, Ezlynn. Now—hurry along. You’ve got school to get to.”
Ezlynn then sat on the edge of her bed, staring at the floor as her uniform lay neatly beside her. Her heart raced at the thought of school, of walking through the hallways where she was already “the strange one.” She imagined the sideways glances, the whispering, the curiosity that always made her feel like she didn’t belong.
Meanwhile, the morning chaos in the kitchen had already begun. Mateo, her eleven-year-old brother, bounced around in his uniform, practically vibrating with energy. Adelina, seven, stood on tiptoe near the counter, trying to peek into the cereal boxes.
“Okay, what do you want for breakfast?” their mother asked, a calm but commanding presence amid the morning mess.
“Ice cream!” Adelina shouted, her little face lighting up.
“No, Adelina,” their mother said with a soft laugh, “not right now. You’ll have something else.”
“I want pancakes with syrup,” Mateo piped up eagerly.
Adelina’s face fell, then brightened. “Pancakes? Okay! Pancakes, pancakes, pancakes!” she cheered.
“Alright,” their mother said, ruffling their hair as she moved toward the stove. “I’ll make pancakes for both of you.” She leaned down and kissed their foreheads. “Now, where’s your big sister?”
“She’s still in her room,” Adelina said, glancing toward the hallway, “looking sad. You should go check on her.”
Their mother nodded knowingly,as she made her way through the hallway then uptairs. She peeked into Ezlynn’s room, seeing her sitting there, lost in thought. “Come on, everything will be fine,” she said softly. “Breakfast will make the day a little brighter, said her mom as she left her room.”
Ezlynn stayed behind a moment longer, staring at her uniform. One day, she thought once more... maybe things would be different
this time.
Pancakes and Paperwork
The smell of sizzling pancakes drifted through the house by the time Ezlynn finally dragged herself out of her room and into the kitchen. Mateo and Adelina were already seated at the table, legs swinging, chanting “Pancakes! Pancakes!” under their breath like a ritual.
Just then, the bedroom door at the end of the hall opened, and their father stepped out, still adjusting his tie.
Before he could take a full step, all three kids scrambled off their chairs and ran toward him.
“Dad!” Mateo yelled.
“Daddy!” Adelina squealed.
“Morning, Dad,” Ezlynn said, quieter but smiling.
He spread his arms wide. “Good morning, pumpkins! Good morning, peach… peach… peach!” he added dramatically, booping Adelina’s nose each time.
Mateo puffed his chest. “How’s my dashing son today?” their father asked.
“I’m great, Dad,” Mateo said proudly, flexing a nonexistent muscle.
“And how are my two princesses?”
“We’re okay, Daddy,” they chimed.
Adelina tugged on his shirt. “Daddy… I broke my dolly.” Her bottom lip quivered again, but not as dramatically as before.
Their father scooped her up. “Don’t worry, pumpkin. I’ll buy you another one.”
Her eyes sparkled instantly, and she threw her arms in the air. “Yay!!”
They all returned to the table, and soon enough, plates were passed around—golden pancakes stacked high, syrup dripping down the sides. The kitchen filled with chatter and clinking forks as the family settled into their morning rhythm.
Their mother glanced at Adelina, then at Ezlynn. “Ezlynn, did you help Adelina with her homework last night like I asked?”
Ezlynn froze with her fork halfway to her mouth. She looked down at her plate, eyes suddenly very focused on her syrup.
“Ezlynn …” her mother repeated, a warning tone creeping in.
Before Ezlynn could answer, their mother turned to Adelina. “Adelina, go get your homework book. Quickly. Let me see it before you leave for school.”
Adelina slid off her chair and sprinted down the hallway, her little feet pattering against the floor.
The room grew quiet, and Ezlynn swallowed hard.
Adelina came barreling back down the hallway, her small feet pattering against the floor. Clutching her homework book, she skidded to a stop at the kitchen table, cheeks flushed.
“Here! Here it is!” she panted, holding it out to their mother.
Their mother quickly took the book, flipping through the pages with a critical eye. “Hmm… looks like you got most of it right, Adelina. Good job, but remember to double-check your spelling next time.”
Ezlynn shifted uneasily in her chair, fork hovering mid-air. She hadn’t helped at all, and guilt gnawed at her.
“Ezlynn,” their mother said, looking up with a gentle but firm tone, “you promised you’d help Adelina with her homework. It’s important to keep that promise.”
“I… I’ll help her next time, Mom,” Ezlynn muttered, keeping her eyes on the pancakes.
Mateo snickered from the other side of the table. “Looks like big sis is slacking again.”
Ezlynn rolled her eyes, a blush creeping across her cheeks. “Shut up, Mateo.”
Adelina pouted but didn’t complain. She was just happy to have her homework checked and her little world back in order.
“Alright, kids, finish your breakfast,” their mother said, closing the homework book and setting it aside. “We don’t want to be late for school.”
The family moved quickly—plates scraped, chairs pushed back, jackets grabbed, and shoes tugged on. Mateo chased Adelina down the hallway, trying to grab her backpack before she got it on properly.
Ezlynn sighed and adjusted her bag on her shoulder. “Why does it feel like every morning is a race against the clock?”
“Because it is,” Mateo said with a grin, dashing ahead.
Adelina skipped beside him, holding her sister’s hand for balance. “Come on, Ezlynn, let’s go!”
Their mother called out from the doorway, “Have a great day, you three! Remember, be kind and stay focused.”
Ezlynn, Mateo, and Adelina bolted out the front door, the crisp morning air hitting their faces as the chaos of the kitchen faded behind them. The new day stretched ahead, full of challenges, awkward stares, and unspoken expectations waiting at school.
First Day Friction
The school doors loomed ahead, grey and imposing against the morning sky. Ezlynn adjusted her backpack, feeling its weight heavier than usual, and inhaled deeply.
“Don’t worry, Ezlynn. You’ll be fine,” Mateo whispered, elbowing her lightly as they walked toward the entrance. Adelina skipped ahead, chattering about the upcoming art class.
Inside, the hallways were buzzing with students. Lockers clanged, shoes squeaked against polished floors, and laughter echoed off the walls. But as Ezylynn moved forward, she couldn’t shake the feeling of eyes on her.
A group of girls by the lockers paused mid-laugh and whispered. Ezylynn caught fragments of their words: “Who does she think she is?” and “She’s so… weird.”
Her stomach twisted. She tugged at her uniform, wishing she could blend into the crowd.
“Ezlynn! Over here!” Mateo waved from the other side of the hall. But she barely heard him.
As she walked toward her classroom, whispers and glances followed. Every step made her heart pound faster. She thought about the rumours she’d heard at school before: she’s too different, she doesn’t belong…
The first class began, and Ezlynn tried to focus on the teacher’s voice, but her mind kept replaying the stares and murmurs from the hall. When she raised her hand to answer a question, a few students snickered. She sank lower in her seat, cheeks burning.
By lunch, she was sitting alone, eating quickly while glancing at groups of friends laughing together. Mateo and Adelina had been pulled into conversations by other kids, leaving Ezlynn to navigate the cafeteria alone.
“Hey… you okay?” a voice asked beside her. She looked up to see a girl from her math class, notebook in hand.
Ezlynn hesitated. “Yeah… I’m fine,” she muttered, not wanting to start a conversation she might regret.
The girl smiled. “I’m Keira. You’re new, right? Don’t worry about them. Their unkindness is simply reflection of their character not your worth.”
Ezlynn nodded, a small spark of hope flickering. Maybe it wasn’t all bad. But as she scanned the cafeteria, she realised this was only the beginning of the subtle battles she’d face at this school.
Her mind drifted back to home, to her mother’s words: “There is nothing wrong with where you come from.” She clutched her lunch tray a little tighter.
Nothing wrong… nothing wrong… she whispered under her breath.
And just like that, the first day pressed on, a mix of anxiety, whispers, and fleeting moments of unexpected kindness, shaping Ezlynn’s life in ways she couldn’t yet imagine.
The cafeteria buzzed with chatter, trays clattering, and the faint smell of pizza hanging in the air. Ezlynn sat across from Keira, both quietly nibbling on their lunch.
“I can’t believe I have history right after lunch,” Keira sighed, pushing a strand of hair behind her ear.
“Just get through it,” Ezlynn muttered, eyes scanning the room. Something about the way the other kids were looking at them made her uneasy.
Keira stood, tray in hand, heading toward the vending machine. Ezylynn noticed a blonde girl with sharp blue eyes blocking her path, striding over with a smirk
.
“Oh, that soda’s mine,” the girl said, snatching the can from Keira’s hand.
Keira froze. “No, I got this first! I was grabbing it.”
“Sorry, but you know, you should think twice about hanging out with… weirdoes,” the girl said, squeezing the soda so it fizzed violently and sprayed over Keira’s uniform.
Keira froze, then hissed, “You’re disgusting!” but the girl just laughed and walked away, leaving Keira dripping and fuming.
Ezylynn’s hands clenched into fists. Her chest burned—not just for Keira, but for the unfairness of it all.
Quickly, she slipped out of the cafeteria while no one was paying attention, heading toward the storeroom. Her eyes landed on a gallon of blue paint. Without hesitation, she stuffed it into her backpack, making sure the lid was tight.
When she returned, she slid back into her seat as if nothing had happened, flipping open her notebook to pretend she’d been studying.
Keira came back moments later, a fresh uniform in hand courtesy of the school office. “ Some people have no idea,” Keira muttered, shaking her head.
“You okay?” Ezylynn asked casually, as if the soda incident had never happened.
Keira nodded, ignoring the dripping residue on her sleeve from the old shirt she had changed out of. “Yeah… just tired of people being rude.”
Ezylynn smiled faintly. They don’t know what’s coming, she thought, glancing down at her backpack where the paint sat, heavy and ready.
The cafeteria was loud again—too loud. Trays clattered, laughter bounced off the walls, and the smell of fries hung thick in the air.
Ezlynn stood up.
Her bag felt heavier than it should have. Her steps were steady, even though her chest burned.
She didn’t mean to trip.
But she did.
The bag slipped from her shoulder.
The blue paint burst free—thick, glossy, unstoppable—spilling across the floor and straight onto Brielle Pierce’s shoes, crawling up her socks and splashing the rest of her uniform.
The room gasped.
“WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?!” Brielle shrieked, jumping back.
Ezlynn froze, eyes wide. “I—I’m sorry. I was carrying art supplies. I didn’t—”
A lunch monitor rushed over. “What is going on here?!”
Brielle’s face burned red. She pointed at Ezlynn. “She did this on purpose!”
Keira stood stiff nearby, clutching her borrowed uniform.
Then Ezlynn snapped—too loud, too sharp.
“This is why you don’t mess with weird girls and their friends.”
The cafeteria fell dead silent.
The teacher turned slowly.
“So,” she said calmly, “Mess with who?”
No one answered.
Not Brielle.
Not Heather.
Not Ezlynn.
The teacher’s eyes moved between them. “Brielle Pierce. Ezlynn Rae. Detention. Now.”
Heather jumped up from the back. “Don’t worry, girl, I’ll wait for you.”
The teacher’s voice cracked like a whip.
“Now.”
Both girls grabbed their bags.
They didn’t look at each other as they walked out—paint still dripping, whispers following them down the hall.
Ezlynn’s heart pounded, but her face stayed calm.
Counselling & Consequences
The classroom smelled faintly of chalk and old books, the fluorescent lights humming above. Ezlynn sat alone at the far corner, her bag still on the floor, her notebook open. No one dared sit near her. Brielle Pierce planted herself at the opposite end of the room, tapping her pen loudly, her eyes sharp and furious.
The clock ticked, each second stretching longer than the last. The teacher, Mrs Langford, moved methodically between rows, her gaze flicking over the students like a quiet storm.
Ezlynn’s hand moved over the page, not writing homework, but poetic —lines about standing tall when the world pushes you down, about being strong without fighting, about the strange kind of power in being “different.”
Brielle noticed. She gritted her teeth. “This is ridiculous,” she muttered under her breath.
Ezlynn didn’t look up. She didn’t need to. The words on her page were louder than any argument Brielle could throw.
Mrs Langford paused, peering at Ezlynn’s notebook.
“Is that… your homework?” she asked.
Ezlynn lifted her eyes calmly.
“Yes, ma’am.”
The teacher nodded slowly and moved on.
Brielle flailed her pen in frustration.
“You’re impossible!” she hissed.
Ezlynn finally glanced up, her expression calm, almost sad.
“I’m not impossible,” she said softly. “Just different.”
Brielle froze. The words weren’t loud, weren’t meant to be. But they struck a chord that no yelling, no fussing, ever could.
As the bell rang, signalling the end of detention, Ezlynn closed her notebook, slung her bag over her shoulder, and walked out. Quiet. Confident. Unshaken.
No one spoke. No one needed to.
This was her power—silent, undeniable, and completely hers.
Before Ezlynn could leave, she was called to the Guidance and Counselling Office.
“Have a seat, Miss Rae,” the counsellor said, motioning to a chair.
Meanwhile, outside, her sister and brother were waiting by the parking lot. Adelina was sitting on the curb, playing with a doll she had found in her classroom. Mateo, notebook in hand, was scribbling away at his homework.
“Addy,” Mateo asked, not looking up
.
“Hmm?” Adelina glanced up from her doll
“Where did you get that doll?”
Adelina held it tight. “In my class.”
“Isn’t that… stealing?” Mateo rubbed his face, frustrated.
“No! Someone left it on the floor, so I didn’t steal it,” she said, matter-of-factly.
Just then, Selena Rae pulled into the driveway. Adelina’s face lit up. “Mommy!” she called. Mateo straightened. “Mom!”
Selena waved at them and stepped out of the car.
“Hey, you two! Where’s Ezlynn?”
The siblings glanced at each other, then back at her. Mateo finally answered, “Detention…”
“Detention?!” Selena’s brow furrowed. “Wait in the car, I’ll go get Ezlynn. And Adelina… where did you get that doll?”
Adelina held it up proudly. “Daddy bought it!”
Selena laughed softly. “Okay… we’ll talk about that later in the car. For now, stay put.”
She waved again, heading toward the school, a mix of concern and calm determination on her face.
Meanwhile
Ms Everly Hartman leaned back slightly in her chair, adjusting her glasses. “Ezlynn, how have you been these past few days?”
“I’ve been fine,” Ezlynn replied, trying to sound casual.
Ms Hartman studied her for a moment. “I’ve gotten a series of reports that you’ve been… unstable lately, and that you’re always by yourself. Do you even have any friends?”
Ezlynn blinked, taken aback. “Yes, I do.”
“And who might that be?”
Ezlynn hesitated before answering, “Keira.”
Ms Hartman’s face softened into a smile. “Ahhhh… Keira Manon. Nice, sweet girl.”
Ezlynn frowned, confused. “Wait… you know her?”
Ms Hartman chuckled lightly. “I keep track of students’ peer circles, dear. You might be new, but we pay attention here.”
Miss Everly adjusted her glasses and folded her hands neatly on her desk. “Ezlynn, some reports I’ve received suggest you’ve been acting out violently, isolating yourself from classmates, and sometimes seem to feel like everyone is out to get you. Your peers wouldn’t know much about why you behave this way, but I just want to ensure you’re okay. If you don’t mind, I would like to speak with Mrs Rae.”
Just then, the office door opened, and Selena Rae stepped in, her expression a mixture of concern and disappointment.
“I am here,” she said, her voice calm but firm. She glanced at Ezlynn, who avoided eye contact, fidgeting in her seat.
“Really, Ezlynn Alani Rae… detention?” Selena murmured, almost to herself.
Miss Everly gestured toward the chair beside her. “Mrs Rae, please, have a seat. I think it would be best if we spoke together.”
Selena lowered herself into the chair, eyes never leaving her daughter for more than a moment. Ezlynn shifted uncomfortably, the tension in the room thick enough to touch.
Miss Everly began, professional and measured. “I want to make it clear—I am not here to punish her further. I want to understand what’s been happening and see how we can help her navigate these challenges. You know your daughter best, Mrs Rae, and any insight you can provide will be invaluable.”
Ezlynn kept her hands clasped tightly in her lap, the faint echo of the cafeteria incident still gnawing at her. Selena’s gaze softened ever so slightly, but the disappointment lingered.
“I understand,” Selena replied, her voice steady. “Let’s start from the beginning.”
Towed Trouble
Outside, the morning sun glinted off Selena Rae’s car, parked just a little too close to the fire hydrant. Unbeknownst to her, a tow truck’s hydraulic arm had already latched onto the car. Mateo, sprawled across the backseat with his head against the window, snored softly. Adelina clutched her doll, eyelids drooping in sleep.
“Mommy?” Adelina murmured in her dreams, rubbing her eyes. Mateo mumbled something incoherent.
Meanwhile, inside still in the Guidance and Counselling Office Ezlynn shifted uncomfortably in the counsellor’s chair. Her mind ...I can’t believe someone accused me of having paranoid tendencies
Down the street, the tow truck’s horn honked twice. A man in a reflective vest shouted, “Moving this car for illegal parking!” The siblings stirred briefly but, still half-asleep, thought it was just a loud dream.
By the time Selena Rae emerged from the school with Ezlynn, a tow truck had already driven off with her car. She froze in disbelief. “My car… oh no. Mateo! Adelina!”
Ezlynn felt her stomach twist. “Mom’s car… it got towed?”
“Miss Everly,” she called the counsellor, trying to keep her voice calm, “would you mind giving Ezlynn and me a ride to the police station? We need to get the car back.”
Everly nodded politely from her office. “Of course, Mrs Rae.”
Ezlynn followed her mother, her backpack slung over one shoulder, feeling that familiar knot of anxiety. “Mom… … Mateo and Adelina…”
Selena exhaled. “They’re fine. They should have fallen asleep in the car. But right now, we need to get my car.”
As they stepped into Everly’s car, Selena tried to explain the situation between clenched teeth. “It was parked in front of the fire hydrant… I thought it was okay for just a minute…”
Ezlynn sat quietly in the back seat, fidgeting with the straps of her backpack. “I’m sorry, Mom… I should have stayed out of trouble like you always say…”
Selena gave her a small squeeze on the shoulder. “Don’t blame yourself, pumpkin. Mistakes happen. Let’s just focus on fixing it together.”
Everly started the car and pulled smoothly into traffic. The ride was quiet except for the low hum of the engine and the occasional frustrated sigh from Selena. Ezlynn stared out the window, watching the trees and buildings blur past, her mind already spinning with everything that had happened that morning.
When they arrived at the impound lot, Selena braced herself for the inevitable paperwork and fees. Ezlynn took a deep breath, wondering what other chaos the day had in store.
