" Leave me alone, alright!", she said, kicking one of the bullies in the stomach. Crystal stood up and glared at them coldly. She wasn't going to let them off. No! Not after humiliating and mocking her!

Crystal had brown skin, and though many people didn't like folks with brown skin, that was not why they avoided Crystal or her mother. It was due to her extremely abnormal silver hair and icy blue eyes. It wasn't Crystal's fault she looked that way, but what would that matter to people? Her mother, her only parent was the only one who loved and appreciated her. Despite all that, Crystal was extremely beautiful and also smart. Any normal child would feel blessed by God if they had those such qualities, but for Crystal, it was more like a cursed mark that made her the target of student harassment. There was not a single day she went to school without coming back with something bruised; herself or her pride.

This day was no exception. Why couldn't they let her be? Why was she the only target they could find? What at all had she ever done to them? As these thoughts ran through her head, she became angry. That day, their roles changed. She became the bully, they became the bullied. That was the first time she lost it because it seemed no matter what she did, they wouldn't get the understanding. A 5 - year old beat up 7 - year olds.

Crystal loved plants. Not only did they provide her answers to her questions on plant anatomy (through observation, of course), but they also kept her company. She would sit outside in the company of nature and talk to the flowers about how her day had been. The plants proved to be good listeners.

Today, as per practice, she sat under the shade of a Chestnut tree and began talking to them.

"School is terrible", she began in a soft voice.

"I get bullied everyday. I don't usually feel angry... but I did today. I might have overdone it, but they deserve what I did to them. Bullies make life less appealing". And as if in agreement, a wind breezed through the leaves of the plants, making it seem like they were nodding.

"I wonder how it's like to be a plant. At least I won't be criticized. No matter how different I look, I'll be accepted... right?"

Crystal got home just in time for supper, which was a huge surprise. She mostly came home when the moon was already up in the sky. Her mother, Layla was speechless at first. ' Is that Crystal? What's she doing here so early? What has possessed her to be on time for supper? ' However, that soon changed to delight. Her daughter never came home early and though it was worrisome for her, Crystal made it clear again and again that she could take care of herself such that Layla couldn't do anything at all.

Layla moved to Crystal who was still standing in the doorway scowling and squatted in front of her so that she could look into her eyes.

"Look who came home early today!", she said, patting the little girl on the head, but seeing how Crystal tried to remove her hand, she withdrew it with a giggle.

"Come on then. Supper's ready."

' Mama! You're so childish!', Crystal thought. But despite herself, Crystal smiled along with her mother.

That evening, while Layla washed the dishes, Crystal went to talk with her. She didn't understand something. Her mind was agile, but she was still a child in the end. And there was finally one topic she couldn't wrap her head around.

"Mama, why do I look so different? I'm tired of everyone looking at me funny!", Crystal complained

At once, Layla's hands froze in the sink. She didn't move for a while, but when she did, she faced Crystal with sadness and guilt etched all over her face. With a sad smile, she gave Crystal a piece of advice, one she cherished all her life, especially when despair hit her.

The mother and daughter talked for a while until Crystal felt sleepy. She wished her mother good night and walked up the stairs leading to her bedroom. When Crystal was out of sight, Layla's tears fell silently.

"I'm so sorry, Crystal. It's all my fault", she whispered beneath her breath as she pulled off the brown wig that sat on top of her head, revealing hair as silver as Crystal's.