Illuminate 

(Sometimes, to save a person, all you have to do is light the way)

Staring into her eyes, this won't be easy. The bullies had done damage to her in more ways than one. I look at her with a long silence lingering. 

Will she tell me what's wrong?

She refuses to speak to the counselling teacher. Since I'm the only one she's willing to open up to, the Principle gave me the task to talk to her. 

"So, Lynx, how's school for you?" I decide to break the silence. 

"It's..." she doesn't continue. 

"Yes?"

She seems so defeated. How long has she been like this?

"I...I'm tired. Can I go home now? My brother is waiting." 

She's avoiding further conversation.

I can't push her to do something she doesn't want. But how can I know what's wrong if she doesn't tell me? 

I grab a piece of paper and write something on it. 

Draw a picture of your school life. 

5 marks.

A picture paints a thousand words, right? If she won't say it, maybe she can show me through her passion. 

I give the paper to her. She takes it. She looks at the question and then at me. I nod. 

................................................................................................

I come to school the next day with low hopes. 

Of course she won't do it!

What was I thinking? 

I walk up to the teacher's room and place my bag at my place. I grab the papers from my bag and pick a red pen to start marking. I just sit down when I see the picture.

There is a girl with braids crying while three boys are laughing and one of them has a long ruler. 

The boy with the long ruler is hitting the girl with braids. 

I stare at the picture. Underneath it is a sentence.

'JUST MAKE THEM GO AWAY.'

How long have they abused her?

She's so upset. 

She even wrote it in red. 

I run so fast that Ms. Alphys is behind trying to catch the flying exam papers. 

I run to Class D, where Undyne is currently teaching them the strategies of battle. 

But she is not in her seat. 

Where is she?

I ask to see the monitor, Ink, and he confirms that he had taken her attendance. 

But why is she missing?

I walk down the corridor, my shoulders drooping. 

I'm sorry...

I'm sorry others assume you're alright when you aren't...

I'm sorry I couldn't do more in my part to help you...

THUMP!

Huh?

THUMP! THUMP! 

"HEEEELP!! HEEEELP!!!" 

I run. 

To where?

The lockers. 

The rows of metal lockers are red and all look alike. Only the name stickers on the lockers tell them apart.

I run to one of the higher ones. 

This one has the name Josh Trevor.

The one next to it? 

Lynx Mochi.

"Hello?" I walk towards the one marked Lynx Mochi. 

THUMP!

"Is someone there?"

"M-Mr. Nightmare...?" is the answer. 

She's in there.

Someone shoved her into her locker.

"Lynx, calm down and tell me your code." I reassure her.

"6-23-61-22!"

I unlock it, and sure enough, a trembling Lynx is inside. 

I carry her out. 

"Are you ok?" 

She shakes her head. 

She looks so scared. 

"It's ok, it's ok. I got you." I bring her close to my chest, I'm sure she can hear my heartbeat. 

As if the thumping of my calming heart is a lullaby, she somehow falls asleep in my arms. 

Thank god you're ok...

......................................................................................

I walk up the stairs to the teacher's room, Ms. Alphys talking to Undyne about a trip to the movies. I put my bag on my place and take out the English papers. I grab a red pen to begin marking. 

Class D is full of surprises. 

I chuckle. 

I mark Dream's first, his getting an A. As expected from my little brother. 

Ink's is grammatically correct yet too casual to be proper.

Blue somehow gets a B. Big improvement. 

I flip through the essay part of Lynx's. She had done question 3.

Write a poem about a person.

30 marks.

'Subtle winds in dark of night,
His guidance like a candle's light,
Never scared to lead the way,
Always there when we're astray,

He always seems to know the path,
Though he's like us, still weak and scathed, 
He listens more than speaking words,
And shields us all from getting hurt,

The eyes of violet, dark and deep,
Reflecting mountains, high and steep,
Mirrors that reflect your soul,
Good or bad, he'll always know,

Thank you, for all that you've done,
You are my Teacher Number One,
Like a candle, bright like day,
You illuminate my way.'

I smile. 

If you want, I will be your candle and light your way.