a little girl, about 13, with sparkling eyes and long hair, wearing a faded skirt and shirt, stands apart, her posture withdrawn as she listens to the teasing of her classmates.[/@ch_1]]
She kept her gaze fixed on her scuffed shoes, feeling the sting of their words linger like nettle on her skin. The girls clustered nearby, their voices rising in mockery.
"Why don't you ever speak up? Is it because you know you don't fit in?"
She clenched her fists, holding back tears, and slowly walked away from the crowd, her head low, determined not to let her sadness show.
The little girl[/@ch_1] sits on a smooth stone, hugging her knees, lost in thought as dragonflies dance above the water.]
She listened to the symphony of river sounds—a kingfisher's call, the soft plop of fish, wind whispering through grass.
"Why am I always the one they laugh at? Is it truly so wrong to be different?"
A single tear traced a path down her tanned cheek, but she wiped it away, refusing to let sorrow win.
the little girl[/@ch_1].]
The old woman looked at her with gentle curiosity.
"Child, could you help me with this load? My arms are tired, and you seem strong,"
Without hesitation, the girl rose and nodded.
"Of course, Dadi. Let me carry it for you,"
the girl[/@ch_1] walk side by side, sharing the weight of the bundle and their stories.]
The old lady smiled, her steps lighter.
"You remind me of the river, you know—quiet, but strong and full of life. Do you know how beautiful you are?"
"No one ever says that. They all point out how I am different, how my skin is dark, how I am just a village girl,"
The old lady laughed softly, her eyes twinkling.
"They see only the surface, but true worth is like the river's depth, hidden from those who do not care to look,"
The girl felt a quiet joy she hadn't known in a long time. She listened as the old lady spoke of her own youth, her struggles, and her triumphs despite what others thought.
"You must never let anyone decide your worth for you. Your kindness, your courage, your laughter—these are your colors, brighter than any skin,"
"You really think so?"
"I know so. The world needs more souls like yours,"
The little girl[/@ch_1] walks home under a silver-lit sky, her steps surer, her back straighter. The next day, at school, she joins the others, her silence gone, her eyes bright with newfound confidence.]
When the teasing began, she met their eyes, her voice steady and full of quiet power.
"Maybe I am different, but I am proud of who I am,"
For the first time, their laughter faltered, and in the pause, respect began to bloom. She smiled, knowing she had discovered a strength and beauty no one could take away.
