It all started in Junior Secondary School One, when five girls formed a friendship that looked perfect from the outside. They sat together in class, shared snacks during break, and walked home laughing like nothing in the world could separate them. To teachers and classmates, they were inseparable.
But inside the circle, one girl always felt different. Whenever plans were made for weekends or outings, she was often left out. Excuses were never said aloud, yet the message was clear. Pictures were taken without her, and later posted with smiles that reminded her she did not belong as much as she thought she did.
In class, the pain became louder. When classmates made jokes at her expense, the laughter that hurt the most came from her own friends. They laughed too loudly, added insults, and watched silently as she shrank into herself. The people meant to protect her were the ones teaching others how to hurt her.
After secondary school, life took them to different universities in different states, but the pattern remained the same. The four stayed in touch, posting memories that erased her existence, editing photos until her face disappeared completely. She learned then that distance does not always end cruelty.
Only one voice ever told her the truth—that she should not let the actions of others define her worth. But even with those words, the scars of betrayal stayed, quietly shaping who she was becoming.