Chapter 3

The warmth of the congee and the comfort of Grandma Chen’s words had soothed Alex, allowing them to momentarily forget the day’s horrors. As they prepared for bed, Alex felt a small sense of calm wash over him, a fleeting hope that sleep might offer a brief escape from the relentless bullying that had haunted his waking hours.

The bedroom was a sanctuary, small but cozy, with posters of favorite bands and bookshelves filled with well-worn novels lining the walls. The soft glow of the bedside lamp cast a warm light across the room as Alex changed into pajamas, his movements slow and deliberate. The events of the day still weighed heavily on his mind, but the comforting routine of getting ready for bed helped to ease some of the lingering tension.

As he slid under the covers, Alex’s thoughts drifted to his friend, Samira—a fiery, fiercely loyal girl who had stood by Alex’s side through thick and thin. Samira had been suspended from school for two weeks after standing up to Victor in a way that few dared to. Normally, they walked home together, Samira’s presence a constant source of support that made the school days a little more bearable. But without her, Alex had felt even more isolated and vulnerable.

The suspension had been a blow to both of them, and the absence of Samira’s sharp wit and protective nature had made the last few days feel even more unbearable. As Alex lay there, staring up at the ceiling, he wondered how Samira was holding up. He missed her—his confidante, his partner in crime, the one person who seemed to truly understand him aside his grandma

Just as Alex began to drift off, the soft creak of the bedroom door opening pulled him back to reality. He turned to see Grandma Chen standing in the doorway, her expression a mix of concern and something else—something that made Alex sit up a little straighter.

“Grandma?” Alex asked, his voice laced with curiosity and a hint of worry. “Is everything okay?”

Grandma Chen stepped into the room, her usually warm eyes clouded with unease. She took a seat on the edge of Alex’s bed, her hand gently resting on Alex’s knee.

“There’s something I need to tell you, dear,” she said softly. “Samira came by earlier. She wanted to see you, but you were already getting ready for bed. I… I didn’t want to disturb you.”

Alex’s heart leaped at the mention of Samira. “Samira was here? Is she okay? What happened?”

“She’s fine, but… she saw something, Alex. Something that she thought you should know about. I wanted to tell you myself because I didn’t want you to find out another way.”

Alex’s stomach twisted into a knot. “What is it, Grandma?”

Grandma Chen hesitated for a moment, searching for the right words. “There’s a video, Alex. Samira saw it online. It’s from today… from what happened in the hallway with Victor.”

Alex’s breath caught in their throat. A video? The thought of his humiliation being broadcast for everyone to see made his skin crawl, his heart pounding in his chest. “A video?” they whispered, his voice barely audible. “Who… who posted it?”

Grandma Chen’s expression softened with sadness. “I don’t know, dear. But it’s out there, and Samira was worried about you. She wanted to warn you before you saw it yourself.”

The reality of the situation hit Alex like a punch to the gut. The image of Victor’s sneering face, the laughter of Jake and Emily, the helplessness he had felt—it was all out there, for everyone to see, to judge, to mock. A fresh wave of humiliation washed over him, and tears pricked at the corners of their eyes.

“Why would someone do that?” Alex asked, his voice trembling with a mix of anger and despair. “Why would they want to humiliate me like that? Haven’t they done enough already?”

Grandma Chen reached out, pulling Alex into a comforting embrace. “I’m so sorry, Alex. I wish I had an answer for you. But sometimes, people do cruel things without thinking about the harm they cause. What matters now is how we move forward.”

Alex buried their face in his grandmother’s shoulder, his tears soaking into the fabric of her sweater. The thought of everyone at school seeing the video, of them laughing at Alex’s pain, was almost too much to bear.

“What am I supposed to do, Grandma?” Alex sobbed, the hopelessness of the situation weighing heavily on his chest. “Everyone’s going to see it. They’re going to think I’m even more of a joke than they already do.”

Grandma Chen held Alex tighter, her hand gently stroking their hair. “You have every right to feel hurt and angry, Alex. This isn’t fair, and you didn’t deserve it. But you’re not alone. Samira cares about you, and so do I. We’ll get through this together.”

As Alex cried, Grandma Chen continued to hold him, offering the only comfort she could. She wished she could take away the pain, could shield Alex from the cruelty of the world, but she knew that all she could do was be there for them, to remind him that they were not alone.

After a while, the sobs began to subside, and Alex pulled back slightly, wiping his tear-streaked face with the back of his hand. “I don’t know if I can go back to school, Grandma. Not after this.”

Grandma Chen looked at Alex with a gentle but firm resolve. “We’ll figure it out together. And remember, you don’t have to face this alone. Samira will be back soon, and in the meantime, we can talk to the school, see what can be done.”

Alex nodded, though the weight of the situation still felt overwhelming. He knew his grandmother was right—there were steps they could take, people they could talk to. But the thought of facing everyone, of enduring more taunts and cruelty, was daunting.

“Samira wanted me to tell you that she’s here for you,” Grandma Chen added softly. “She’s worried about you, Alex. She wants to help, in any way she can.”

A small flicker of hope sparked in Alex’s chest. Samira had always been there for him, and knowing that she was still in his corner, even after everything, made the situation feel just a little bit more bearable.

“I’ll talk to her,” Alex said quietly. “Maybe… maybe we can figure something out together.”

Grandma Chen smiled, a look of pride and love in her eyes. “That’s the spirit, Alex. You’re stronger than you know. And no matter what happens, I’ll be here, right by your side.”

Alex managed a small smile in return, the warmth of his grandmother’s words giving them a sliver of courage. The road ahead was uncertain, and the fear of what awaited them at school still loomed large, but with the support of those who cared about him, he felt a little more prepared to face whatever came next.

As Grandma Chen kissed Alex’s forehead and stood to leave the room, she paused at the doorway, turning back to give one last piece of advice.

“Remember, Alex,” she said softly, “no matter what others say or do, you are worthy of respect and love. Don’t let anyone take that away from you.”

With that, she closed the door, leaving Alex alone with his thoughts. The fear and anxiety was still there, gnawing at the edges of their mind, but as they lay back down, pulling the covers up to their chin, he focused on the one thing that brought him comfort—the knowledge that he weren’t alone, and that they had the strength to keep going, no matter how hard things might get.

As sleep finally began to take hold, Alex’s last thoughts were of Samira, his loyal friend, and the resolve to face whatever challenges lay ahead, together.