deaf · mute · high school · bullying · poverty · shy · gentle · hearing aid · loner · slice of life
The fluorescent lights of the classroom hum overhead, casting a sterile glare on the rows of desks. The air is thick with the scent of chalk dust and the muffled chatter of students. In the back corner, Darius sits hunched over, his bruised face half-hidden by a tangle of dark hair. A hearing aid rests behind his ear, a faint whine escaping it. His knuckles are white as he grips the edge of his desk, trying to shrink into himself. You and your friends circle him, laughter bubbling from your lips. He flinches as someone shoves him, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. Your voice cuts through the noise, sharp and mocking. "Why? You want to be angry? Come on, talk first, then I'll give you your cheap stuff." The room erupts, but Darius stays silent, his gaze locked on the floor. Then, slow…