Chapter 2

After the long day at school, the walk home feels endless to Alex. Each step seems to drag on as he replay the events of the day in his mind, the humiliation and fear gnawing at his insides. The sky is overcast, the gray clouds hanging low, as if reflecting the heaviness in Alex’s heart. By the time he reach the familiar, modest two-story house, he is  emotionally drained, barely holding himself together.

Alex’s home is one of the few places where he feel safe. The worn wooden steps leading to the front door creak under his weight as he climb them, his fingers brushing against the peeling paint on the banister. Taking a deep breath, he push open the door and step inside, the warm, familiar scent of his grandmother’s cooking wrapping around him like a comforting blanket.

Inside, the house is quiet, save for the soft hum of the old refrigerator and the distant ticking of the clock on the wall. Alex drops their bag by the door, his shoulders slumping as he feel the weight of the day fully settle in. The coziness of the house contrasts sharply with the coldness he feel inside.

“Alex, is that you?” calls a gentle voice from the kitchen.

It’s Grandma Chen, a woman of short stature with silver hair pulled back into a neat bun, her face lined with the years but still full of warmth. She’s been Alex’s rock ever since he was little, always there with a kind word, a soft touch, and a listening ear.

Alex hesitates for a moment, swallowing down the lump in his throat. He wants to tell her everything, but the words feel heavy, almost too much to bear. But the memory of Victor’s sneer, the laughter of Jake and Emily, and the feeling of helplessness are too overwhelming to keep inside.

“Yeah, Grandma. It’s me,” Alex finally replies, his voice small, almost defeated. 

Grandma Chen emerges from the kitchen, wiping her hands on a dish towel, a look of concern immediately crossing her face as she sees Alex standing there, shoulders hunched and eyes downcast. She’s seen this look before—too many times, in fact. It’s the look Alex wears whenever something particularly bad has happened.

“Come here, child,” she says softly, her voice a soothing balm.

Alex doesn’t hesitate. He move towards her, and as soon as he is within reach, Grandma Chen wraps him in a gentle, comforting embrace. For a moment, Alex just stands there, letting the warmth of the hug wash over him, the tightness in his chest easing slightly.

But then the emotions he have been holding back all day surge forward, and before he can stop it, a sob escapes his lips. It’s as if the floodgates have opened, and all the pain, fear, and humiliation comes pouring out.

“Grandma,” Alex chokes out, his  voice trembling. “I… I can’t do this anymore.”

Grandma Chen holds him tighter, her hand gently rubbing his back. “Shh, it’s okay, Alex. You’re home now. Take your time. I’m here.”

Alex pulls back slightly, looking up at her through tear-filled eyes. “Victor… he—he did it again. He hurt me, Grandma. And no one did anything. Not even the teachers. They just walked by like I didn’t even exist.”

The tears come faster now, streaming down Alex’s cheeks as they pour out his  heart, recounting every detail of the bullying, the cruel words, the physical pain, and the sheer helplessness he  felt. With each word, he feel the weight of his emotions lifting, but at the same time, the vulnerability of admitting how deeply he’ve been hurt makes him feel exposed, raw.

“I tried to stand up to him,” Alex continues, his voice breaking. “But he’s too strong. And everyone just laughs… they all think it’s funny. Like I’m some kind of joke. I just… I don’t know what to do anymore, Grandma. I feel so weak. So… so worthless.”

At this, Grandma Chen’s heart breaks for her grandchild. She cups Alex’s face in her hands, her thumb gently wiping away the tears that continue to fall. Her own eyes glisten with unshed tears as she listens to the pain in Alex’s voice. She’s known for a while now that Alex has been struggling, but hearing it put into words, hearing the depth of the hurt, makes it all the more real, all the more painful.

“Oh, Alex,” she murmurs, her voice thick with emotion. “You are not weak, and you are certainly not worthless. Don’t ever believe that. Those children… they are the ones who are lost, who don’t understand the harm they’re causing. But you… you are stronger than you know.”

Alex shakes their head, pulling away from her hands. “I don’t feel strong, Grandma. I feel… small. Like nothing I do matters. Like I’ll never be able to stand up to him. I’m just… I’m just so tired of being scared all the time.”

Grandma Chen nods, understanding the exhaustion that comes from carrying such a heavy burden. She leads Alex over to the worn, comfortable couch in the living room and sits down, motioning for Alex to join her. Once they’re seated, she takes Alex’s hand in hers, holding it firmly but gently.

“Alex,” she begins, her voice steady, “I know it doesn’t feel like it now, but you have more strength inside you than you realize. You’ve been through so much, and you’re still here. You’re still fighting, even if it doesn’t feel like it.”

Alex looks down at their hands, the tears slowing but still falling. “But what if I can’t keep fighting? What if… what if I just keep getting hurt?”

Grandma Chen’s heart aches at the fear in Alex’s voice. She knows how hard it is for them, how much they’ve had to endure. But she also knows that Alex is more resilient than they give themselves credit for.

“You’ve been hurt, yes,” she says softly, “and that’s something no one should have to go through. But Alex, you don’t have to face this alone. You have me, and there are people who care about you. And sometimes, the strongest thing you can do is ask for help.”

Alex lifts their gaze to meet hers, searching her eyes for some kind of reassurance, some kind of hope. “But what can I do? I don’t know how to stop them. I don’t know how to make them leave me alone.”

Grandma Chen’s grip on Alex’s hand tightens slightly, her expression firm but kind. “The first step is believing that you have the right to stand up for yourself, that you deserve to be treated with respect. And it’s not just about being strong physically, but also mentally and emotionally. You don’t have to fight this battle on your own. There are people who can help you, whether it’s me, your teachers, or even a counselor.”

Alex sighs, the weight of everything feeling almost too much to bear. “I just want it to stop, Grandma. I just want to be normal, to go to school without being afraid.”

Grandma Chen pulls Alex into another hug, holding himclose as she speaks. “I know, my dear. And I promise you, we’ll find a way to make this better. But you have to remember that your worth isn’t defined by what those bullies say or do. You are so much more than their cruel words. You are kind, you are smart, and you have a heart full of love. Don’t let them take that away from you.”

Alex closes his eyes, letting the comfort of their grandmother’s words sink in. For the first time in a long time, he feel a glimmer of hope, a small spark that maybe, just maybe, things can get better.

“I’m scared, Grandma,” he whisper.

Grandma Chen kisses the top of his head, her voice gentle but full of conviction. “It’s okay to be scared, Alex. But know this—you are not alone. We will get through this together. And one day, you will see just how strong you really are.”

They sit there in silence for a while, the ticking of the clock the only sound in the room. Slowly, the tension in Alex’s body begins to ease, the warmth of his grandmother’s embrace soothing the ache in his heart. For the first time that day, he feel a sense of peace, a quiet assurance that maybe, with time and help, he can find a way to move past this, to reclaim the strength he have lost.

As the sky outside begins to darken, signaling the end of the day, Grandma Chen pulls back slightly, looking down at Alex with a soft smile. “Now, how about we have some dinner? I made your favorite—chicken congee. And afterward, we can talk more about what we can do moving forward, okay?”

Alex nods, a small, tentative smile tugging at the corners of their mouth. “Okay, Grandma. That sounds good.”

They stand up together, Alex feeling lighter, as if a small part of the burden he ha’ve been carrying has been lifted. As they move towards the kitchen, the warmth of the home surrounds them, a stark contrast to the cold, harsh world outside.

And though the road ahead is still uncertain, Alex knows one thing for sure—he is  not alone. And with his grandmother by his side, they feel just a little bit stronger, a little bit more ready to face whatever comes next.