The silent return

Early in the morning, workers moved around the mansion, attending to their various duties.

Inside one of the rooms downstairs, a girl slowly opened her eyes.

Beside her bed stood a wheelchair.

Salish stared at it for a moment before sitting up. She rubbed her sleepy eyes when suddenly, someone knocked on the door.

“Come on,” she said.

The door opened.

“Hi, pumpkin.”

Salish smiled when she saw her brother.

“Brother, why are you dressed up so early?”

“I want to drop you off at school.”

“Let me help you.”

Matthew walked toward his sister and carefully moved the wheelchair closer to the bed. He helped Salish settle into it comfortably.

Before they could leave, another knock came from the door.

“Come in,” Salish said.

The old nanny entered with a warm smile.

“Good afternoon, children.”

The nanny had been taking care of Salish ever since her accident. She had become more than just a nanny to the family; she was someone Salish trusted deeply.

“How are you, darlings?”

“Fine, Ma,” they both replied.

Salish got dressed and went downstairs to have breakfast with the family.

Her room was downstairs because she could not move around the house by herself.

As usual, her father was absent.

Matthew noticed the empty seat.

“He will be back soon,” their mother said gently, patting Salish’s shoulder.

After breakfast, Matthew took Salish to school before heading to the company.

When they arrived, Salish wheeled herself toward her classroom.

Before she could reach the entrance, a girl around her age came running toward her with excitement.

“Salish!”

Salish smiled.

“Lily!”

“I missed you throughout the holiday!” Lily exclaimed.

“I missed you too.”

They smiled at each other.

But Salish soon noticed several students staring at her.

Their expressions were cold and unpleasant.

“Don’t mind them,” Lily whispered.

The two friends continued toward the classroom.

Suddenly, three boys stepped in front of them.

Nidal folded his arms and smirked.

“Look. The cripple is back.”

Kaido moved closer and pushed Salish’s wheelchair slightly.

“Stop it now!” Lily shouted.

Gerald laughed.

“Who are you to stop us from bullying this limbless fool?”

Salish’s eyes filled with tears.

It hurt even more because Nidal was the boy she secretly had a crush on.

The three boys laughed before walking away.

Lily looked at her friend.

“It’s fine,” she whispered. “Don’t listen to them.”

They finally entered the classroom.

But instead of peace, Salish was met with more laughter.

“Look at the cripple!” one girl shouted.

Several other students joined in.

Salish lowered her head.

Then Autumn, one of the most popular girls in school, stepped forward.

She looked down at Salish with disgust.

“You are not wanted here. You disgust us.”

“Yes!” several students shouted.

Lily slammed her hand against the table.

“Don’t you dare talk to my friend like that again!”

Autumn glared at her.

Without warning, she grabbed Salish and pulled her from the wheelchair.

Salish cried out in pain.

“Stop!” Lily shouted.

Lily grabbed Autumn’s hair and pushed her away.

She immediately rushed to Salish and helped her back into the wheelchair.

Just then, the teacher entered the classroom.

He looked around in confusion after hearing the commotion.

“What is going on here?”

The classroom became silent.

After hearing what had happened, the teacher sent Salish, Lily, and Autumn to the principal’s office.

In the Principal’s Office

The principal looked at the three girls.

“Tell me what happened.”

Salish wiped her tears.

“She insulted me and pushed me from my wheelchair.”

The principal turned toward Autumn.

“Is that true?”

Autumn looked away.

She could not answer.

The principal sighed.

“Autumn, you will be suspended for one week.”

Salish was surprised.

However, everyone knew that Autumn’s father was one of the richest and most influential men in the city.

Autumn stood up angrily and walked out of the office.

The principal looked at Salish and Lily.

“You two can return to your classroom.”

Lily wheeled Salish back.

As they entered the classroom, Lily looked at her friend.

“Thanks for protecting me,” Salish said quietly.

Lily smiled.

“I will always do that.”

The rest of the school day went by without any major incident.

Later that afternoon, Salish’s driver arrived to pick her up.

As she was being helped into the car, several students stood near the school entrance, laughing and making fun of the way she had to be carried into the vehicle.

Salish tried not to look at them.

Lily stood nearby and waved.

Salish waved back.

The driver waited until Salish was comfortably seated before driving away.

During the journey home, the driver noticed that Salish was unusually quiet.

“Madam, I hope there are no problems?”

“Not at all.”

She turned toward the window.

The driver said nothing else.

Soon, the car entered the mansion’s compound.

The nanny was already waiting.

She walked toward the car as Salish was brought inside.

“What is wrong?” the nanny asked.

“Nothing.”

Salish wheeled herself toward her room.

The nanny watched her disappear down the hallway.

Concerned, she went to speak with Salish’s mother.

A few minutes later, Salish’s mother walked to her daughter’s room and knocked gently.

“Baby, open the door.”

“Mum, I’m fine.”

Her mother stood outside for a moment.

“I am always here for you.”

There was no response.

After a few seconds, she walked away.

Later, the nanny brought food and carefully placed it outside Salish’s door.

Inside the room, Salish sat quietly in front of the mirror.

She stared at her reflection.

Her eyes were still filled with sadness.

She wondered why everyone at school hated her.

Why did they laugh at her?

Why did they look at her differently?

And most painfully of all, why did Nidal—the boy she secretly liked—join them?

Salish lowered her head.

For the first time that day, she allowed the tears to fall.

She had no idea that the pain she was experiencing now would eventually become a part of a story far bigger than she could imagine.