The Decision

Recently, Years 7 & 8 wrote for the National Short Story Young Writer competition. The winners will be announced in April. The remit was to write a short story entitled ‘The Decision’.

I don't belong in this world, that's what they tell me; and guess what; I don't. I'm fed up of all of the bullying, I know that I am not pretty or sporty or smart, so what am I supposed to do? I'm useless. That is why I have decided to take my own life. Maybe I won't be such a waste of space anymore.

Vanessa.

As I write these words a tear rolls down my face. I don't know why, this is my choice, this is what I want. I guess that I am just sad that I have chosen to end it this way; that 16 years of my life mean nothing. But… this is definitely the best decision that I have made.

It's time to go to Hell now aka school. As I slip the letter into my bag I take a deep breath and go downstairs. I'm guessing that dad has already gone to work because mum is reading the newspaper in the kitchen. I wave, smile and then walk out the door.

I can tell when I am approaching school because all of the laughing and sneering starts; I keep my head down in the hope that no one will be able to tell that it is me. But of course, they know it's me.

"Look who it is, minger!" That's the school bully, Margot. "Trying to hide from us? Well, it's not going to work. You stick out like a sore thumb, elephant. " Little does she know that I skip meals.

"Bully," I mumble under my breath.

"What did you say?"

"Nothing," I mumble again.

“I said what did you say?!"

"I said nothing!" Why did I shout; I knew what was coming.

"Don't speak to me like that! Do you know who I am?! I am Margot Lee! I am the most popular girl in school, and who are you? Nobody. Go to the dustbin, that’s where you belong! "

By now everyone has crowded round us and is laughing at me. Someone takes my bag and starts to take everything out of it and empties it onto the floor. I keep calm and stay still. Margot shoves my shoulder and leaves, slowly everyone starts to just walk away. Once everyone has left I dejectedly start to collect my things. I hope that I have picked everything up.

Finally school is over, I can go home and act like everything is ok. Tomorrow is Friday, the last day of school so that means that in two days everything will finally be over.

“Honey, someone is at the door for you!” mum shouts up to me. I am surprised. Nobody ever comes over to see me.

“I’m coming.” When I get to the door I see a girl standing outside, I recognize her.

“Hi Vanessa,” says the girl

“Hi.” I’m so confused, I don’t know who she is.

“I guess that I’ll leave you to it.”

Once my mum has gone I let her inside

“Who are you?”

“I’m Zara, I found your letter.”

I take her upstairs to my bedroom.

“What do you mean?!” I should have made sure that I put it back in my bag when everything was tipped out of it.

“I’m not going to leave until we talk about this.”

“Talk about this! You don’t even know me. You and your friends have tormented me for years and now you expect me just to let you tell me what to do!” I just want her to leave, how dare she come into my house and tell me how to live my life.

“Look, I get that I have been mean to you in the past…”

“The past! Can I remind you of what happened today?!”

“I’m sorry, just please don’t do this, meet me at lunch at school tomorrow by the big tree, please!” As she finishes that sentence she goes downstairs and out of the door before I can reply. I can’t think about this now. I put my pajamas on and curl up in bed with a book, and I slowly drift off to sleep.

At school the next day Zara and I had a long conversation a long, long conversation. She made me realize that there is more to life then school and that it would be over soon anyway, she told me the brilliant things about me, about how I am an amazing singer and actress and I should think about going to one of the drama schools in our area, she even said that she would help me audition. She said that she would look up what musicals are at our theatre and that we could go together, but she made me promise something, she made me promise that I wouldn’t do anything.

I have made my decision.

I feel lifeless, standing there, the wind blowing against me; I step over the railing, take a deep breath and jump. I’m flying and falling all at the same time and then I’m plunging, choking and blacking out. I’m being put onto a boat, being driven to the shore, I can’t hear anything. I’m going in and out of consciousness, choking up water, my heart is beating fast. I’m lying there, I know that my time is nearly over, I’m happy but still so sad, was this the right decision, it doesn’t matter anymore, fate will tell me whether it is. My life flashes past in my mind, all the pain, loneliness, but still all of the joy and happiness. As I take my last breath, I hear something…it’s Zara.

“You said you wouldn’t do this, I thought I changed your mind.” But it’s too late. I’m gone.

#competition #ShortStory