The bright and shining sun shone through my window and its bright light stung my eyes. My eyes flashed and shrunk at the brightness. Although it woke me up with a smile. I woke up, stood on my hardwood floor, and got dressed. My cheer outfit gleamed in the light as I went into the bathroom and tied my blonde hair into a bun.

“Jax?” I called, “Come and get ready. It is morning.”

I hear a loud groan come from his room, and smiled, knowing I woke him up. He came downstairs and stood there, with his same pajamas and a doll. That stinking doll. I wish he would just get rid of it already.

He looked up at me and said, “Already?” I swore I saw an eye roll from him.

“Yup!” I said with a huge over-exaggerated smile,”Now go get ready, or you are gonna be late.”

He got ready and he groaned again as he came into the kitchen, dressed with his doll clutched in his hand. I made him breakfast, and walked out with Jax to wait for the bus.
I waited until the bus came and I dropped Jax off with all of his stuff ready to go.

“Put that darn thing away.” I told him with a chuckle, “You don't need that at school.” I shook my head and kept my glance at that doll. I walked up to him and grabbed it.

“Yes I do,” he said, “It makes me feel better,” He said as he swayed back and forth.

“Okay, fine,” I said and I handed him the doll, “Just don't let anyone see it.”

“I won't,” he said with a smile on his face! “Thank you!”

“Bye Jax,” I said to him as the bus picked him up and drove him away.

I walked back into the house and waited for the bus to pick me up. Ajax is only 12, so he starts school earlier than me.

“I wish he wouldn't bring that doll to school anymore,” I thought as I walked back into the house. He carries that doll everywhere he goes, but it's fine because it makes him feel better about himself. Sometimes, like earlier that morning, I wish I took that doll away when he was sitting there.

“Mom, Jax is on the bus, all set to go to school,” I told her. I think I heard a mumble, but that doesn't matter. Mom’s never home, anyways. I'm the one who takes care of Ajax, 24/7.

My bus finally comes and I get to school. I noticed some people wore their hair like I always do.

“Figures,” I thought.

I walk in and everyone stares at me, but I'm used to it. I mean I am head of the cheer team and I have Nationals to prepare for. It's coming up real soon, but I think our team will take first again. We always win, at least when I'm head cheerleader.

I get to my first class, and I sat down. “I hope Ajax is okay,” I thought to myself. Maybe I wouldn't worry so much if he hadn't brought that doll.

I kept thinking about him, his little self, walking around school and hopefully having a good day. I would stare at the clock to see what class he would be in, and I did that all day.
“Zhavia?” I startled up. The teacher was calling for me. I must've been daydreaming. Little did Jax know that it was about him.

Again.

“Yes?” I asked

“Could you answer the question?”

“Sorry.” I replied.

The bell rang. "Now is my shot." I thought and sprinted towards the door.

"Ouch, watch it," I heard some kids say as i pushed them out of the way. The good old smell of meat and spices filled my nostrils.
I smiled, "taco Tuesday." I took two steps out of the door, making an even bigger run for it. "I'm gonna make it" I thought.

"Zhavia?" The teacher asked, with a tone to her voice.
"So close." I rolled my eyes as i knew that the same talk was coming.

"What was that?" She claimed.

"Nothing, Mrs. Smith," I had sang in a cheery voice.

"Please, have a seat,” she said, and she pointed to the oldest desk I've ever seen in my life.

"Did you sit in this when you were in school back in 1800?" I mumbled and rolled my eyes, my stomach growling.

She gave me the death stare, "No, and that was very disrespectful. Now, what is going on with you, this isn't the first time you acted up in class."

I tried to come up with an excuse on the fly, but I couldn't so I just rehearsed my same old thing, "I'm not sure, I'm sorry, it won’t happen again," and this time with the tone in my voice.

I stood up and slithered away, my mouth drooling as I got to the cafeteria.

I slowly devoured my tacos with pride as I finished the rest of my day. I just can't wait to get home.

I got off the bus and ran into the house with joy. I can't wait to see his smiling face.
But I didn't see that. Not at all. I've never seen anything like this before in my entire life.

“Via” he seemed to choke out and he was sitting in a puddle of water.

“Honey, it's okay. What's wrong?”

“I can't do it anymore. I tried to keep it in. They just keep calling me names. And it's not just that. They push me and kick me. What do I do, Via,” he asked, and just like that his face got red of fury.

The clatter of the doll crashed to the hardwood floor of his room, and it shattered.
And just like that, the doll was gone. I tried holding myself together. “It's okay, Jax. It'll get better.”

“What if it doesn't? I'll always be short. I'll always be diagnosed, so I will always be bullied and pushed around like a rag doll,” he pointed to the doll on the floor, “I’m done.”

“I don't know what to tell you, Bud. Your ‘disease’ makes you, you. If they can't accept that then it's their fault. It doesn't matter that your shorter than everyone else. You're so unique and never change.”

“Thanks, Zhavia,” and he smiled.

That even made me feel better and the build up stopped. I sat there. I just listened to the wind blowing and the trees swaying, still trying not to hold it in.

“Hello?” Jax asked, sounding awkward. “Is there a problem?’’ And he chuckled. I could tell it was awkward.

“Oh, sorry, you should go get your homework done. It's almost dinner time.” I didn’t even realize that I was staring at him.

I walked him to his room, and I began to adore him even more.

I made supper for me, Jax and mom. It was a silent dinner, as usual.

Bedtime came around, and I read Jax a story.

As I got through the story, he said, “are you okay?” And he started to cough. It wasn't normal. The sound ricocheted off the walls. It hurt my ears. And my heart. I could tell.

I didn't even know I was crying. “Don't worry about me. How are you?”

“Not so good. It’s getting worse, Via. I don’t feel like myself anymore. Just know that when I die, I will always love you and look after you. Forever. I will know that I did everything I dreamed of.”

Now I really tried to hold it back. I didn't know what to say so I just dropped it.

“Goodnight, love you.”

“Love you more.”

The morning came, and I jumped out of bed. Jax wasn't on the couch watching TV, like he normally is.
“Jax?” I called, “maybe he's still sleeping,” I thought.

I walked into his room, startled. I screamed. The room was spinning. The ground wasn't there, at least to anymore. It was silent. No peaceful breaths. Nothing.

This time, I didn’t let it in,  I saw a huge puddle of my tears on the floor.

There he was, laying there. So peacefully. I crashed into the floor. The sobs put me to sleep.

I looked up. The sun wasn't shining in his window anymore, and my puddle of tears weren't there anymore. I looked at the time. I was definitely late for school now.

I said what I needed to at and laid the blanket, slowly and to make sure each corner was precise. If he was gone, at least it has to be perfect,

“Goodbye, Jax.” I said.

I called the police and they came and took him away. “It’s a movie”, I thought “it'll all be over by tomorrow.”

After a long time by the wastebasket, I went to sleep.well, at least trying to sleep.

“He's gone.’’ I keep saying in my head. I fell asleep, in a puddle once more.

I woke up and like the speed of light, ran to Jax’s room.

I was staring at an empty bed.

“Guess he's really gone, I better go tell mom. Where is she?” I thought.

I walked into her room. The disgusting smell of cigarettes and one too many McDonalds wafted into my nose. I grunted with disgust and she wasn't home, again.

“Ugh.” I rolled my eyes and walked to my bedroom. I’ve never been this tired in my life. I crashed into my bed and I fell right asleep.

The next day of school I knew I had to go. I really didn't want to go, but I knew it would never be the same, again.

I got to school, wishing Jax was at school. But he wasn't, and he never will be.

I made it through all of my classes, barely. I got to Mrs. Smith’s room, really debating to leave.

The bell rang through my eardrums. “Maybe I could make it.” I said as all of the kids pushed me in like sardines. “Shoot.” I said as I sat by my best friend, Alijah.

“I thought I could make it out.” I said, “what?” She wouldn’t stop staring at me, not even blinking.

“You,” she said, “What happened to you? Did someone die or something?” She said and chuckled, thinking she was joking.

“No, why?” I chuckled in a awkward way. And I felt it, those darn tears again, “it’s Jax. Please don’t tell anyone. It happened yesterday morning. I can't take all of this. Not right now.”

“I'm so sorry. Wanna ditch and go shopping?”

“Yes, you always know how o make me feel better.”

We snuck out of class without needing our excuse.  She drove me to the mall, and the smell of all of the vending machines filled the air. I looked around and it was mostly adults and old people, obviously because all of the kids are supposed to be in school. Thank goodness Aliyah looks super old, so she could pass as already out of high school.

When we walked in, we got some weird looks. “She’s my cousin,” she’d say, “it’s fine because we are family. She needed a little support right now.” and I would smile my same awkward smile and we would keep walking.

We spent the whole school day at the mall. It felt nice, but it still makes me miss him, so very much.

Even with all of my new stuff from the mall, I still didn’t feel complete. It felt like there was a huge hole in my stomach.

I woke up the next morning, my stomach growling. I haven’t ate since that day, and I don’t think I’ll ever eat again. So, I got up, put on my sweats and a t-shirt, and I stumbled out of the door, ready for this fantastic day.

I walked into school. Everyone looked at me like  was a freak, and who was to blame them? I looked like a bag of trash that got dumped and crashed one too many times. I got lots of stares as I walked like a sloth to my locker. The whole room would not stop spinning.

“What happened?” I heard some whispers. Now I wanted to go home more than ever.

I got through the first of my classes, barely. “Man, I really feel like I'm going to die.” I thought.

I couldn't wait until lunch. Wow, I didn’t even realize it was Tuesday. I really didn't want tacos. It was Jax’s favorite food and i just can’t handle that right now. I choked up during lunch at my table. Lip quivered. Blinking. The tears came down.

“What is your problem? Are you even able to practice at cheer tonight?” Alijah asked, clearly forgetting about yesterday, apparently.

“What are talking about? Remember yesterday?” I asked, the taco meat smell making my eyes water. Water started to go down my forehead. My mouth was dry. I cannot believe this.

“Nothing happened yesterday, freak. Let's go, girls and leave is freak show alone.” She said and just like that they all just casually got up and walked away.

“Fine, be that way! I don’t need any of you anyways.” I screamed, but choked. I can make it on my own, I thought, but I do. They were the only reason I come to school.

Now, I have nothing.

I waited very patiently for the school day to end. “Great, cheerleading practice,” I thought as I rolled my eyes. I stumbled slowly into the gym.

I grazed into the gym for practice. After one step into the gym, everyone stares at me. I heard some whispers as I stood in the middle of the gym waiting for direction.

The coach sprints in, “Sorry, I’m late ladies. Now, who's ready to-” and she is staring right at me. “Zhavia, can you come see me, please?”

I groaned and slowly walked behind her until we reached her office.

“Zhavia,’’ she said in a strained voice, “I'm afraid that because of your difficulty to be a team player, you are no longer on the cheer team,” she just stared at the floor and then would slightly look up at me.

“I can’t believe this,” I croaked. My heart dropped. Now I really have nothing.

Everything’s gone.

I said nothing and sprinted out of her office, I kept running to my car. I got in and drove home, my throat dry and my lip quivering. I parked my car and ran at the speed of light into the house.

“Mom?” I called while frantically searching for her. No answer, so she's not home again. She probably will not be again, after Jax. I went up to his room and saw the doll, broken laying on the floor. I picked up the pieces and chucked them as hard as I could across the room.

“I can’t take it anymore.” I thought as I laid on his bed. My quiet sobs made me fall asleep, that has been a first in a while.

As the rest of high school passed, I never went to school. I couldn’t face anyone, ever again. Shockingly enough, I missed my classes more than my friends. At least my classes didn’t turn me down. I got my GED on an online class, and I felt amazing. I knew Jax would’ve been proud of me. I just wish that he was here, and to see me get a physical cap and gown. Obviously, nothing happened. Throughout my home schooling, mom never came home again. It was just me, all alone. I wish mom was there, next to my computer, cheering with joy as she sees my electronic diploma.

“Good job, Via, I'm so proud of you.” She would say.

But she didn't. This isn't a fairytale.

I woke up the next morning. I had mixed thoughts. Today was graduation day at the high school, and apparently I'm required to go.

“Maybe it won't be so bad,” I thought, “but it could be.” I got dressed in my gown, missing my cheer outfit. I slipped it on and walked with pride down the hallway to the bathroom. I stood in the mirror. “Zhavia,” I said in the mirror, “you're gonna go to the graduation, get your real diploma, and whip your blonde hair in all of their faces.”

I walked out of the house, ready to drive. “Oops, I forgot to do something.” I ran back into the house, fast but careful. I was trying not to get the gown all dirty.

I walked in and stared. There it was. Waiting for me. I picked all of its pieces up and grazed into the kitchen for glue, while still watching my gown and the time. I took the glue back up to the room and kneeled.

It wasn't easy, but it was done. “Thank you Jax, for making me stronger.” I took it and set it in my car. I drove and drove until I found it.

“You can do this.” I thought as I stepped very carefully out of the car. I brought it with me. The smell of must and dew filled my nose. The sun was shining brighter than usual, maybe even brighter than ever.

“You're the best little man. Now, go show them how amazing you are.” I set the re assembled doll onto his grave.

I stumbled into my car, picking up my ankle-length gown. I drove slow to the high school. I pulled in. Welcome to Smith High School: Home of the Sharks. I rolled my eyes. But, in that moment, I found a sense of closure. All that kept going through my head was the doll, but I smiled.

I stumbled and tripped as I made my way into the gym. All of the memories kept coming into my head from all of those years ago

“You're not a team player,” the coach kept saying in my head

“But I am,” I thought, and I strolled with pride to my seat. As everyone came in as well, I got some weird looks. I wouldn't blame them, but I wish it would stop. I kept strolling around and wandering, while the glossy gym floor stared back at me.

“Maybe I shouldn’t have come,” I thought.

“Hey girl! How’s it going,” the chip-cheery voice made me spin around in panic.

Great. “Hey, Alijah.” I said with a little sarcasm, with a smile creeping out.

In that very minute, I really wanted to go home. I had to. “You gotta be strong,” the voice in my head would say. It was Jax’s voice.

“How've you been?” She'd ask, and all of her little posse circled around her.

“Fine, you?”

“Better than ever. I got accepted into Harvard.” She smiled. I just wanted to slap that smile right off of her face.

“Good for you. Have a good time, you guys,” and just like that, I walked away. I felt a sense of pride.

The ceremony begun and everyone walked up receiving their diplomas, and their families would stand and cheer or them.

“Zhavia Jensen.”

I stood up, and walked. The world was disappearing before me. I held my diploma with a smile. I went to look for my family, but in that moment I saw reality and just walked off.

Alijah stared at me. I smirked at her and waved the diploma in her face.

“You're amazing, Via,” Jax’s voice said in my head. I left the high school with pride, ready for the next chapter.

“Let's do this, Jax.” I said as I drove off.