Speak

“The first ten lies they tell you in high school…. 10. These will be the years you look back on fondly.”

Melinda foreshadows the challenges she will experience in her first year of high school with a hint of sarcasm. Melinda’s freshman year is preluded with a traumatic experience, and she spends the year isolated, abused, and neglected by her parents, used by Heather, harassed by Andy, and struggling to speak while battling with self-harm.

“All that crap you hear on TV about communication and expressing feelings is a lie. Nobody really wants to hear what you have to say.”

Melinda feels isolated from the world. She is unable to speak, but beyond that, she does not feel as if anyone even cares about what she has to say. After she called the police at the party, none of her friends asked her why; instead, they all abandoned her without question. Melinda’s parents know something is wrong, because she does not speak, her grades are falling, and she seems more and more withdrawn. Despite this knowledge, they never seem to ask her what is bothering her or attempt to support her.

“Art follows lunch, like dreams follow nightmare.”

Melinda’s only peace and freedom from her dark memories are in art class. In her other classes, she is either bored or uncomfortable. With her peers, she is bullied or ignored altogether. At home, Melinda is yelled at or ignored.