The first day of school is never easy, but that one was beyond bad. I remember it like it was just yesterday, after all it was the worst week of my life. I got out of my car and I felt stunned, the school yard was like a sea of children. As I walked onto the schoolyard my heart was beating out of my chest, sweat trickled down my forehead and I pushed my glasses higher onto the bridge of my nose. I held my head down low trying not to make eye contact with anyone. Suddenly, I heard a deep whisper, I turned around to see a boy who looked like he was in grade 2,  just like me.

ok class, I would like you to meet Matt, he will be joining us here at Middlefield public school

 “You’re the new kid, Matt right?” asked the boy. “I’m Preston”.

“Y-yes I am, nice to meet you” I replied shyly as I adjusted my backpack. After we broke the ice, we talked while we walked all the way to class, it felt really nice talking to Preston. When we got to the classroom, I met my new teacher, Ms.Murphy.

“Ok class, I would like you to meet Matt, he will be joining us here at Middle field Elementary School!” she announced excitedly.

I already made more friends than I expected, Preston and I even made plans to hang out after school.

Look at this dork over here!! Haha!

HAHAHAHAHAHA

HAHAHAHAHAHA

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Everyone was very nice to me but then suddenly right after Ms.Murphy stepped out of class for a while the girl sitting in front of me named Maddie whipped her spiky, chocolate colored hair in my face as she turned around to flick me in the forehead and while her eyes glared into mine she yelled

“Look at this dork over here!! Haha!” as she laughed while banging her desk.

I-I gotta go

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

I barely even knew who she was and I didn't know why she did it. However, when I realized everyone was laughing and pointing at me, I felt humiliated. My cheeks turned bright red, I could feel tears gathering at the back of my throat. To my surprise Preston was the first to laugh, I thought he was my friend! I was feeling  overwhelmed.

“I-I gotta go!” I blurted out as I raced towards the door, and just like that my daydream turned into a nightmare!

Come on back Mike

I was astounded, nothing made sense anymore, I ran to anywhere I could. Questions flooded my brain as I slid down the wall behind me.

“This was a bad idea” I whispered tearfully with regret in my voice “ I shouldn’t have moved”. Just then from the corner of my eye I noticed Ms.Murphy approaching me and I swiftly wiped the tears of my face.

“You shouldn’t have run off like that Matt, I knew there was a problem but I talked to the class and they agreed to apologize to you” explained Ms.Murphy.

When I got back to class everyone echoed after Ms.Murphy

“We are sorry Matt”, but it was all for nothing, in just a few minutes I already heard murmurs and giggles but as the day went by, they faded away. The hours felt like years but school finally ended, the sound of the bell was like music to my ears, and I sprinted towards my car.

“How was your first day buddy? ” questioned my dad, Harvey

“Not good” I replied choking back tears as I closed my door shut. I guess that my dad figured that I wasn’t in the mood to talk, so the rest of the car ride was silent.

When I got home I went straight to my room where I was alone and sobbed. About an hour later, I was working on my science homework which was much harder than the work at my old school, especially since I don’t like science but I figured it out. I was on question 3 when I heard my parents call me from the living room downstairs. As I raced down the stairs I prepared my answer for the question I was sure they would ask.

“Are you ready to talk about your day yet Matt?” questioned my mother, her beautiful sandy hair was pulled back into a ponytail and her hands were laid softly on the study table. I replied with a nod and started flooding out my thoughts.

“ My day started great. I made so many new friends but then suddenly a very scary girl named Maddie flicked me in the forehead and everyone laughed and pointed like like I was a joke or something”. My light stare turned into a hard gaze when I heard their next words.

“Sorry buddy you knew we love you, but if you didn’t stand up for yourself, then we aren't with you on that one” Uttered dad

" Yeah Matt bullying was the reason you moved to a new school and you promised you would stand up for yourself.” added my mom, Megan I couldn't believe my ears.

“Aren’t you guys gonna support me!?” I yelled at the top of my lungs. I ran upstairs and slammed my door shut, I was furious! Minutes later I heard my mother call out

“Matt honey, dad and I are stepping out for a little bit and by morning I want  to hear an apology, Okay? Bye sweetheart”. After I was sure they left I creeped downstairs to discuss who was right and who was wrong with grandma Mary and Grandpa Martin.

Even though I didn't knew before I  now that I was wrong because no one would ever stop laughing unless someone made them. I went to bed thinking that tomorrow I would apologize and everything would be ok.

Mike they passed away

It was morning and the deafening sound of my alarm clock woke me up, I ran downstairs yelling

“Mom, dad!’ “where are you guys?” but there was no answer. I looked everywhere in my new house but I just couldn’t find them. That was when I stumbled upon grandpa Martin sitting at the dining table, tears running down his red cheeks, his hands on his head and his face expressionless.

“Woah gramps are you okay?”

“Matthew I have to talk to you” he replied wiping away his tears

“About what? Where are mom and dad?” I asked cluelessly and my heart skipped a beat at his answer.

“There is no easy way to say that but mom and dad were in a car accident”

“Are they ok” I interrupted

“Mike, they passed away”

It felt as if all time had stopped, my heart was pounding to the point that I could hear it. I was taught by my parents to hold my head tall, cry behind closed doors and be ready to handle any situation because whatever you're experiencing someone else around the world has it much worse, but I couldn’t do it anymore. I didn’t hold my head up tall, I cried out in the open and I wasn’t ready to handle that situation.

I was in denial but I  no one could fake the tone in grandpa Martin’s caring voice and the sadness I felt by looking in his somber eyes, I ran towards him and threw myself in his arms. The rest of the day went by slowly while I tried to understand the consequences of what happened. I skipped school for the rest of the week so that I could grieve privately.

Matthew, do you want to talk about it?