Head down and fingers clenched tightly around her backpack straps. 

Her cold, shaking hands move quickly to pull down her dark brown hair. 

She moves it over her face, hoping it can be her shield. 

Her glacial blue eyes drift downwards to the floor, 

and her heart races as fast as a butterfly’s wings. 

The group of boys laugh and whisper as she walks by…

but it never stops there. 

First came the hand that gripped around her arm,

her body viciously halted around, 

and they began to shove themselves into her. 

Whistles surrounded the air,

the air she was forced to breathe. 

“Hey hot stuff”...

“Talk to us”... 

“Come closer”...  

Their eyes continued to wander, 

but her eyes were locked on the corner of the hall. 

Her heart longed for someone to find her. 

Someone to save her. 

Someone to see her for who she truly is. 

Fragile and afraid, 

she wants to hide away in her cocoon,

or fly away from the realities of life...

but they don’t leave her

alone.