Ivan got plenty of smiles. Fake smiles.
The scared smiles. The sadistic smiles. And worst of all, the pitying smiles.
The stares he would get from those that watched him crumple into a shell of nothingness, but didn't dare to help.
The people that watched, horrified as he was pushed around.
He remembers getting a real smile once.
He recalls trying to make friends. But he could tell that the others were shaking with fear. That day, after school, he sat in his own corner. Slumped down, and ready to cry. And that's what he did. He sat there, and cried his feelings out. Cried until he couldn't breathe.
He wondered why no one would make friends with him.
What was he lacking? Was he not friendly enough? Was he too short? Too tall? Too fat? Too skinny?
Why was he so scary?
If everyone reacted to him like this, could he really go anywhere in life? What would his future be like? Was it even worth living his life, if all he could do was bring people down?
"Hey.", someone shouted, cutting through his thoughts.
Ivan looked up.
A blonde girl smiled.
His eyes widened.
She smiled a real smile. Not hiding fear, or pity.
Only a sign of pure happiness.
The girl held out her hand.
"Come on, get up! There's nothing to cry about…"
Ivan took it.
Thank you, He whispered.
The girl just smiled.
Since then, Ivan has not seen the girl. But he knows that one day, He'll make friends. Real friends.
Besides, in the end, its the thought that counts.