She stared at the sky… As if someone out there would see her. See her enough to care. Maybe someone would talk to her. Hug her. Tell her they're proud.
But nothing happened.
Just the stars staring back at her— as if she were some ordinary girl with nothing but herself.
And maybe… that wasn't wrong.
Ashley was a girl who loved the night. Not because of the moon. Not because of the stars. But because the night offered something else—
Darkness.
A place where no one asked if she was okay. A place where she could cry without a single soul bothering her.
She heard them laughing inside. Her family.
Or at least, that's what they looked like from the outside.
Voices filled with joy. Laughter. Happiness. Complete. Without her.
They didn't care that she sat outside in the cold. That she was crying. That she had gotten the highest marks again.
She was a ghost. Invisible. Not because she wanted to be— But because no one gave her a choice.
Just then, a familiar voice called out, "Ashley… kid, come inside. Dinner's ready."
But she didn't move. She knew it was just a habit. Just a reminder.
They didn't care. They never did.
So she stayed outside. Shivering.
Not that it mattered— Her heart was already too cold to feel the difference.
She heard the clinking of spoons and forks. She heard their laughter. She heard them praising her brother—
Top of the class again. Proud voices echoing through the walls. Voices she'd never heard for herself.
She had wanted to tell them she got 99% on her test. But for what? So they could ask, "Where's the other 1%?"
No. She kept it to herself.
Instead, she grabbed her diary and began to write.
Dear Echo, Today was… amazing. I got 99% on the test! I'm really happy. I know you're happy too.
I saw an abandoned kitten today. I gave her my lunch. I thought of taking her home, but I stopped. If they found out, they'd blame me. And worse… they'd blame the kitten too.
I didn't want her to get hurt more. She's just like me. No wonder I felt connected to her.
It's still only 9 p.m. I'm waiting for them to fall asleep. Then I can cry without being disturbed.
I gotta go now, Echo. Got some homework left. Talk to you later.
Your foolish Ley.
She closed the diary— old, worn, ancient-looking. Yet it held her soul inside.
She quietly walked toward her bedroom.
But her mom saw her. Ashley offered a small smile— the kind that hides more than it shows— and slipped away.
But then, she heard it.
"Yeah, probably wasting her time again…" "I don't know why we even keep her." "She's useless." "Why can't she be like our son?" "She's such a shame."
Don't expect her to cry. Not now.
She heard things like this too often to be surprised anymore.
Later that night, once everyone was asleep, Ashley finished her homework and stepped out of her room, quietly heading to the kitchen for dinner.
But again—she got caught.
Or… could we even call it caught? Was it a crime to get a peaceful dinner?
Her brother walked in.
"Oh, little mouse… trying to eat again? So greedy," he sneered. "You know what Mom and Dad say about you?" "You're a waste of space. And this is the proof—you sneak food while they sleep. How pathetic."
He laughed—bitterly.
Ashley looked at him with tired eyes. "I'm sorry… I was just… never mind. I'm going to sleep."
She didn't argue. Not because she couldn't— but because no one ever took her side.
She walked back to her room. Softly closed the door.
She didn't bother asking what he was doing in the kitchen. She already knew.
Snacks. Video games.
But who would blame him? Even though he's the older one he was just a kd for her parents,so she had to respect him.
That was the rule. Always the rule.
She turned off the lights. Climbed into bed.
Buried her face in her pillow… and finally let herself cry until sleep stole her away..