184 When love and hate collide

[FLASHBACK]

"Ouch…" the young Paula hissed as she blew at the wound on her knee. She was on the brink of crying, but growing up, she learned that crying wouldn't help her. "I'll get back on those kids."

Her face turned sour at the thought of those kids who pushed her to the ground where she had gotten this wound. Those kids always picked on her for the reason she couldn't understand. All she knew was that they were bullying her. Not that she never fought back. 

Paula was a strong-willed middle schooler and thus, if pushed to the edge, she would bare her teeth. But alas, that one time she fought back didn't end well. Not only did the children's parents scold her, but her mother also beat her for misbehaving. 

Paula was the victim of bullying, and yet, even her own mother sided with those bullies. Thus, she learned how to keep things to herself and endure the bullying. No one would believe her, anyway.

"You should wash it."