School was a no-go area, enemy territory in fact. Just the thought of going to school made her flinch and break out in a sweat. This is a story of friends becoming enemies, of trust betrayed. Yeah, that sort of thing.
She could remember precisely when it started. The day when for reasons still unknown to her, her best friend became her tormentor.
They had been in the math lesson when she heard whispers and giggles. The next thing was a sharp sting at the back of her neck. She turned ready to share in the joke only to realize that her friend, Yasmin, was giggling and pointing at her with the famous Suku.
Suku was one of those popular girls who were just so perfect. Sekai’s heart sank. That was the beginning of months upon months of name calling, stealing her books, following her home and mocking her.
She hoped they would leave her alone but such a day never came. Well, at least it never got physical, they just used words like ugly, fat and pathetic.
Sekai never retaliated. All she did was try by all means to stay away from the pair to no avail, and so the persecution persisted.
They all grew up and you would think the bullying would stop with age, it never did. Every opportunity the pair got they tore Sekai to pieces with their words.
Sekai had always excelled in all her studies to become a force to reckon with in the corporate sector where she works as an administrator. This meant dealing with people every day, which is difficult for her because she is haunted. Not by Casper the Ghost, but by the words “ugly,” “fat” and “pathetic.”
Outwardly, she seems to have it all together with designer bags, expensive cosmetics, Dolce & Gabbana scents, but all that does nothing to drive away the depression and anxiety she has.
She is two people. The charismatic and confident Sekai by day and the depressed suicidal one by night. Being one person on the inside and another on the outside drains her to a point that she constantly contemplates killing herself several times a day.
“I could just hang myself in my room, or l could just empty a bottle of sleeping pills into my mouth, or better yet, get run over by a train…”
This is her constant mantra. Sekai sucks in relationships, the only interesting part in a relationship to her is the sex. To her, it’s a form of therapy to make herself feel better just for a while, of course.
Some days are better than others, but the emotional wounds are there, just under her skin, always waiting for an opportunity to jump out and show themselves. Wounds that are festering with the words, “ugly,” “fat” and “pathetic.”
Unfortunately, they are millions of Sekais out there whose mental health has been irrevocably altered. Sekai and many others like her choose to suffer in silence hoping the makeup and nice clothes will cover up their wounds.
Bullying of any kind must never be overlooked to say, “Oh, they are just kids,” because it has adverse effects that spill into adulthood. It almost always has long lasting negative effects if not dealt with.
Wayne Gerard Trotman once said, “People who repeatedly attack your confidence and self-esteem are quite aware of your potential even if you are not.”
This quote just shows that many people’s potentials and self-esteems have been shattered by this menace called bullying. Bullying is real, and sadly, the effects are real, too.
To Sekai and the millions of Sekais out there, l urge you to speak out and seek help before the hurtful words completely consume you.
