Eva stood outside in the courtyard, the sun setting behind the orphanage, casting long shadows across the grass. She was alone, as usual, sitting on a weathered bench with her sketchbook open on her lap. Drawing was her escape, her way of expressing the emotions she couldn't speak aloud. She carefully traced the lines of a tree, its branches reaching out like protective arms.
She didn't hear them approaching. The first sign was the sudden, oppressive silence that fell over the courtyard. Eva looked up to see Brianna and her gang standing in front of her, blocking out the fading sunlight.
"Still playing with your little drawings?" Brianna mocked, her voice breaking the stillness. "How pathetic."
Eva's heart sank, but she tried to keep her expression neutral. "I'm not bothering anyone," she said quietly, her eyes flicking to Emily, hoping for some sign of support.
Emily's gaze met hers for a fleeting second before dropping to the ground. She was too scared to defy Brianna, even though Eva could see the regret in her eyes.
"Give it here," Sabrina demanded, reaching for the sketchbook.
"No, please," Eva pleaded, holding it tight.
Brianna rolled her eyes. "Oh, for God's sake, Sabrina. If she wants to keep her little doodles, let her. They're worthless anyway."
But Sabrina was persistent. With a cruel smile, she yanked the sketchbook from Eva's grasp. "Let's see what the little artist has been up to."
She flipped through the pages, her smile widening. "Look at this, girls. Trees, flowers, birds... how cute. Too bad it's all trash." With a final, contemptuous glance, she tore a page from the book and crumpled it in her hand.
Eva felt a surge of anger. "Stop it!" she shouted, standing up. Her voice echoed in the courtyard, startling some of the younger girls who were watching from a distance.
"Or what?" Chloe sneered, stepping forward. "What are you going to do about it, Scarface?"
Eva's hands clenched into fists at her sides. She felt a tear trickle down her cheek, but she held her ground. "I won't let you keep doing this. I won't."
Brianna laughed, a harsh, mocking sound. "Listen to her, girls. She thinks she can stand up to us."
Emily bit her lip, her eyes darting between Eva and Brianna. She took a hesitant step forward, but Brianna's sharp glance stopped her in her tracks. Emily retreated, her shoulders slumping in defeat.
"Let's go," Brianna said, tossing the crumpled drawing at Eva's feet. "This is boring. She's not worth our time."
The gang turned and walked away, their laughter echoing in the still air. Eva stood there, shaking, tears streaming down her face. She looked at her ruined drawing and felt a wave of despair wash over her.
But as she bent to pick up the pieces, she noticed something. One of the younger girls, a shy, quiet girl named Lily, was watching her from a distance. Their eyes met, and Lily gave her a small, tentative smile. It wasn't much, but it was a glimmer of hope. Maybe, just maybe, she wasn't as alone as she felt.
Eva straightened up, clutching her sketchbook to her chest. She wiped her tears away and took a deep breath. She would keep drawing, keep expressing herself, no matter what Brianna and her gang did. Because she knew that as long as she stayed true to herself, they could never truly defeat her.
---
Days turned into weeks, and the bullying from Brianna and her gang continued relentlessly. Each encounter left Eva feeling more isolated, but she clung to the small moments of kindness she received from Lily and the other younger girls who had started to look up to her. They saw her as a quiet strength in the face of adversity, even if they were too afraid to openly stand by her side.
One afternoon, during lunch, Eva was sitting alone at a corner table in the dining hall, trying to enjoy her meal in peace. The room buzzed with chatter and laughter, but she felt like an outsider looking in. Suddenly, the noise dimmed as Brianna, Chloe, and Sabrina made their entrance, their presence commanding the attention of everyone around them. Emily trailed behind, her expression a mask of reluctant compliance.
Eva kept her head down, hoping to avoid their notice. But as usual, Brianna's sharp eyes found her. She strutted over to Eva's table, her entourage in tow. "Look at this, girls. Poor little Eva, eating all alone. Isn't it sad?" Brianna's voice was loud enough for everyone to hear, and a few girls nearby stifled giggles, not daring to openly join in but too afraid to speak out.
Eva didn't respond, focusing on her food. Brianna's mocking tone grated on her nerves, but she knew that reacting would only make things worse.
"Hey, I'm talking to you," Brianna snapped, knocking Eva's tray off the table with a swift movement of her hand. The clatter of dishes and spilled food echoed through the hall, drawing everyone's attention.
Eva looked up, her face flushed with anger and humiliation. "Why can't you just leave me alone?"
"Because it's fun," Chloe chimed in, a malicious grin spreading across her face.
"Yeah, and because you make it so easy," Sabrina added, popping a piece of candy into her mouth.