Life of a Victim
                                                        
Every day, I walk down the hallways scared to be hurt or humiliated. It is all done by the same person, Virginia Weber. Virginia is in the same grade as me, but she doesn’t look like it. She is like a giant, towering over me whenever I see her. She is two times my size. I always ask my parents if I can stay home from school, or I lie and say I’m sick because I don’t want to face her.
After I finish getting ready, I go downstairs and get breakfast. I grab the cereal box and pour some milk. As I go and sit at the kitchen table my mom comes downstairs.
“Hi mom,” I say.
“Morning Ali,” she replies.
I think to myself, I’m scared Virginia is going to hurt me today.
“Are you looking forward to school?”
I reply, “Yeah it should be a good day.” Under my breath I mutter, “If I survive.”
I finish my breakfast and put the bowl in the sink as I hear the bus horn honk. I rush out and grab my backpack and yell, “Bye mom!” She waves back as I run onto the bus.
I walk down the aisle and find my seat. I pull out one of my favorite books and start reading. As I read my favorite book I smile because I know that I am safe. I also know that Virginia can’t get to me here. After a while the bus comes to a slow stop and we all get off.
I slowly walk down the hallway and find my locker. As I put in my combination, I look over my shoulders to see if Virginia is coming or not. She is not there, so I close my locker and head to first period.
I sit and watch the hands on the clock go around from period one to four while I wait for lunch.  As the bell rings, I take a deep breath in relief that the day is almost over.
Then I walk to lunch with my best friend Sadie, who has been my best friend since my first year of high school. We walk to lunch together every day. When we get to the lunchroom we head towards the lunch line. After we get our food, we try and find a seat. We usually eat in the back of the lunchroom because that is where the open seats are. As I start to pick up my slice of pizza, I feel somebody touch my shoulder. I turn around to see that it is Virginia. She looks down at me and smirks.
“What is wrong with you?”
Even though she keeps nudging me I try to ignore her. I can feel my face getting red and tears rolling down my face.
After a while I stand up and scream, “Stop!”
The lunchroom goes silent and everyone turns towards us. I can see Virginia’s fist clench up as she asks, “What did you say?”
“I am sick and tired of you constantly bullying me and others!” I yell. 
Virginia takes a step back.
I wipe the tears from my eyes as I feel the tension in my body while I yell at Virginia.
Then a lunchroom teacher walked up to us and firmly asks, “What’s going on girls?”
We both look at each other then Virginia says, “Nothing.” and walks away with her head down.
For the first time ever at school, I feel confident and like I did something right. As I walk out of the lunchroom, I have the biggest smile on my face because I stood up for myself and everyone else who has suffered.
After the last bell of the day rings, I get on the bus and leave.
As the bus starts to move the girl who sits in front of me pops her head up and asks, “Is it true?”
“What are you talking about?”
She responds, “That you stood up to Virginia Weber!”
I reply, “Yeah, I guess.”
She gives me a high five and says, “Thank you.”
I think to myself, I didn’t realize how much of a difference I made my standing up to Virginia.
The bus reaches my stop and I walk off the bus. When I get off, I can see my mom on the front porch.
  She asks, “How was your day today Ali?”
I smile and say, “Great.”
I walk into the house and pull out my homework.
After about 30 minutes, I hear a knock at the door. I get up and look through the window to see who it is. To my surprise, it’s Virginia.
I slowly crack open the door and ask, “What are you doing here?”
Virginia sadly exclaims, “I just came over to say I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have been so mean to you.”
I open the door completely to see the expression on her face.  Was she really apologizing and did she really mean it.  As I stand there speechless, Virginia turns and walks away slowly down the driveway as I close the door.
I lean up against the door feeling guilty. Looking again through the window, to see she is almost down the street. I open the door and start sprinting towards her. I run and scream, “Virginia, wait!”
She stops walking and turns her head with tears running down her face. As I catch up to her I say, “Virginia I am sorry I didn’t accept your apology. I was just very surprised to hear it.”
She nods her head.
“Also I shouldn’t have been so mean when I confronted you. I should've just asked to talk to you.”
Virginia responds, “Thanks, but it’s not your fault. I shouldn’t have started bullying you in the first place.”
Then I smile at her and she smiles back.
Virginia starts to walk home, then I stop her and say, “Hey, do you want to come to my house.”
“Um sure.” she replies.
We silently walk down the street to my house. I can hear her shoes drag against the concrete as we walk.
When we get back to my house, Virginia seems a little bit uncomfortable. She is nervous like she is not supposed to be here. I get her a glass of water and sit down in the chair across from her. As I sit down I wonder, Will Virginia change, or tomorrow will she go back to bullying me.
After a while I think to myself, it doesn’t matter if Virginia doesn’t change because I stood up for myself and everyone else that has been hurt by Virginia. I was a victim but now I am not.