Published via Ecency

Katy sat in the shade of the great oak tree, alone and unwanted.

The only friend she had was Samantha. Mommy said that Samantha would always be there for Katy, and mommy was right, of course. But Katy was afraid she was putting too much pressure on poor Samantha.

What if she left Katy too?

"Hey, look! The freak is crying again!"

"Ughh, that doll is so disgusting!"

"Freak! Freak! Your dada come back yet?"

"HAHAHAHAHHA"

"Children! What did we say about bullying? Inside! Now!"

Why did Samantha look so sad? Katy wiped the tears from her cloth cheek. It's ok Sammy, we'll be ok! She smiled, for Samantha's sake. She shouldn't be this sad on account of Katy. On account of the freak.

"Katy?" The slight girl looked to see her homeroom teacher, Mrs. Gentry. "The bell already rand sweety."

"I'm sorry Mrs. Gentry," Katy said to the tree bark. "I didn't hear it."

Gentry sighed. "Katy, Katy, Katy. We talked about this." She kneeled before her. "If you don't try you will never get better... do you understand me, girl?"

"I... I am trying..." Katy whispered.

"What?"

"I am trying,"

"This," Gentry grabbed Samantha by the arm, "This isn't trying, Katy. You're too old to be playing with dolls."

Gentry pulled on Samantha and Katy started to shriek as a banshee unleashed. Gentry let go, eyes wide as she stepped back. Katy clutched Samantha as if her life depended on it. It just might at that.

"Inside, young lady!"

Katy walked towards the school, shaking, her dada's mantra echoing from the beyond. When you're invisible, no one can hurt you; When you're invisible, no one can hurt you. When you're invisible, no one can -

"Hey, freak," Jimmy said leaning on his desk. "Why are you screaming like some baby? Your deadbeat mom didn't teach you any manners?" Katy walked passed him, head down.

“You know, Jimmy. You’re as stupid as your dad.”

“Shut it, Terrance! You love the freak that much why don’t you –“

"Sit down, Jimmy!" The teacher tried to wrangle the chaotic class. "Today we will talk about -"

"We'll be seeing you after school, freak." Jimmy whispered as he went to his seat.

Katy stared into space as the classroom formed into something resembling order. She loved it here, now. When it was quiet and she could just... be. The teachers stopped trying to make her pay attention. Too many fits - biting, scratching, clawing. Katy had come to terms long ago that she was a freak. Her mommy made sure of that.

As with all good things, the class came to an end. Katy got Samantha and was on her way out of the school yard when -

"Freak!" Jimmy and his two goons ran to meet her. "Did you forget about my promise?"

When you're invisible, no one can hurt you.

"Come on, Jimmy. You know she doesn't like to talk..."

When you're invisible, no one can hurt you.

"She's a freak! My dad said so!" The mean boy sneered. "My dad says she's faking it. Craving attention is what he said!" He came close. "Said to teach her a lesson."

When you're invisible -

The bully ripped away Samantha from Katy's clutches. Katy immediately jumped to save her friend. Jimmy slapped her to the ground. Katy sprung again, but Jimmy kicked her. As she lay on the dirt she saw Jimmy's grin... as he tore Samantha's head off.

"No..." Katy whimpered. "NO!" Katy wailed.

She thrust toward, nails grabbing the fat boy's head as she scratched his skin and - something hit her on the head, something hard.

"The freak tried to tear my eyes out!"

"Come on Jimmy, let's get out of here!"

"Did you see the freak? I told you..."

The voices faded as Katy lay there. She wanted to cry, but she found her eyes dry. She had failed her best friend, she wasn't invisible enough...

Other kids started coalescing around her. Katy couldn't look at Samantha's decapated body. She just got up and ran.

At home she slammed the front door behind her.

"How many times have I told you not to slam the door you little brat!" Grandmama yelled. "I sear I will get the pan and -"

But Katy was already in her room, her breaths fast, her heart faster. She lay in a daze, grandmama came for dinner, left, her tummy ached but it didn't matter. Nothing mattered anymore. Nothing.

Sammy...

The tears finally came. They did not stop till morning.

Morning was a fury of shouting and fighting with grandmama. Katy didn’t want to go to school, grandmama didn’t want her in the house – grandmama was bigger, Katy was hungry. Suffice to say, Katy trudged toward the school, bruised and tired and numb. Numb to the pain. Numb to the world.

The school yard was loud, but when Katy arrived it became but a murmur. She hardly noticed. Just went to her hill and the tree she used to share with Samantha.

Katy sat on the root, thoughtless. Either sooner or later a voice interrupted the stillness of time.

“K-Katy?”
Katy looked up to see… a boy. She blinked. Another of Jimmy’s goons?

“I’m Terrance.” He said, handing her –

“Samantha!” It was her! Whole and undamaged! Katy hugged her friend, tears as big as watermelons.

“Oh,” Terrance smiled. “Well, I’m glad I –“

Katy hugged the boy, squeezing him with all her might. “Thank you.” She managed, “How, how did you save her?”

“Well…” Terrance scratched the back of his head, his face redder than the evening sun. “My mom is a seamstress, you see. I-I’m sorry I didn’t help yesterday, there were three of them and –“

Katy hugged him again. Terrance. Terrance was his name. “H-how did you see me?”

“E-excuse me?”

“I thought I was invisible…”

Terrance blinked, a sheepish look on his face. “Not to me.” He managed. “I see you, Katy.”

“Come, sit.” She pulled him down on the great root. “Tell me how your mommy saved Samantha.”

“Well, you see…”

…

Katy sat in the shade of the great oak tree, sad. But for the first time in a long time, warm.

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