Child

An elementary school teacher notices something strange about one of their students.

 

A young girl sits in her proper seat at school

Listening attentively as the teacher speaks

The teacher’s gaze sweeps over the class ever so slowly

Before finally settling on the young girl’s eyes

The teacher realizes something unsettling about this particular child

She has eyes that show way too much

Eyes that show more wisdom than a child should

Knowledge of an adult lies behind this young one’s eyes

Her eyes express to the world

Hardships she’s had to endure

No innocence lingers in her eyes

Her eyes show she knows of the horrors in this world

But is wise enough to not let it show

Oh child what ever happened to thee?

To cast such dark shadows under your eyes

And give you such sleepless nights?

The teacher also realizes the young girl is no longer smiling

Which is normally so rare for her to not

Even when the other children treat the young girl so badly

Not once did she lose her smile for more than a moment

But lately it seems when no one is watching

The young child’s smile always drops

Weariness becomes apparent on the young one’s face

As if she’s seen way too much and wants to rest.

The teacher always appreciated this child’s obedience

As well as helping her fellow classmates when they needed help with their studies

But now that the teacher takes a step back to really look at the child

There is something unsettling that the teacher sees

An incredibly intelligent student

Who understands way too much and is able to converse about complicated topics

That is something no child should be able

Or at least not as young as this

Something strange about this child

Makes most of the class avoid her

Besides the few friends she did make

Although this girl has been bullied

She puts on quite the show

 Now that the teacher thinks of it

The young girl’s behavior seemed a tad forced

As if she was trying to hide behind a facade

But it is more than likely the teacher’s imagination

Or so the teacher thought

The teacher recalls

That the young girl is also a very sickly child

Easily falls ill or becomes injured

The teacher has always had her suspicions

Unfortunately there is no proof to confirm them

So the teacher can not act

Nor can the teacher voice them

Only observe until the child shows something to confirm the suspicions.