Emily sat hunched over her crayon drawing, her knees nearly touching the underside of the low table. The laughter of classmates echoed, but she felt distant, her height an unspoken barrier. Tears welled in her eyes as she tried to make herself smaller, unnoticed.
"Why do I have to be so tall?" she whispered, voice barely audible above the din.
One boy points at Emily, causing the others to laugh. Their words sting sharper than the cool breeze that rustles the leaves.
Teasing Boy, a mischievous classmate: Short brown hair, loud voice, ring-leader of the group.
"Hey, Emily, are you sure you’re not a grown-up in disguise?"
Emily tries to blink back tears, her cheeks flushed. She turns away, hugging her arms tightly across her chest, wishing she could disappear.
Her mother sits beside her, smoothing Emily's hair and offering a warm smile.
Emily's Mom, nurturing and gentle, always ready with a hug.
"Your height makes you special, Emily. One day, you’ll see—being different is a gift,"
"But everyone laughs at me. I just want to fit in,"
"I know it’s hard now, but your time will come,"
Emily's stride is graceful, head held high. Her once-awkward height now turns heads with admiration rather than ridicule. A sleek black car pulls up to the curb, and a smartly dressed woman steps out, holding a clipboard.
Scout, fashion scout, sharp-eyed and enthusiastic.
"Excuse me! I’m with Elysian Models. Have you ever considered modeling?"
"Me? Modeling?" Emily blinks in disbelief as hope flickers in her chest.
The photographer grins, gesturing excitedly for Emily to try new poses. Peers cluster nearby, their voices a mix of awe and envy.
Fellow Model, elegant and poised, whispers to a friend.
"She’s incredible—look at her lines! I wish I had her height,"
Emily feels the warmth of acceptance blooming in her chest, every click of the camera a celebration.
As she reaches the runway’s end, Emily pauses, her heart swelling. She catches her mother’s eye in the crowd, who beams with tears of joy. For the first time, Emily stands tall not out of necessity, but out of pride—her difference now her greatest strength.
"I’m glad I never shrank," she thinks, lifting her chin to the cheering world.
