Arpita pens a short story about a Special Needs schoolgirl, who had to face bullying from her peers, other than neglect and apathy. Perhaps Rebecca could be saved. An exclusive for Different Truths.
Rebeca was born in a lower-middle-class family in the outskirts of London. Since childhood, she was different from the rest of the world. Rebeca suffered from a rare disorder where she struggled to form words. She used to go to the same school as friends of her age. However, she struggled to fit in and always found herself alone. She was constantly bullied in the class because of her disorder and that took a toll on her.
One evening, during summer break, Rebecca and her family were to visit her Granny’s place. Everybody was ready other than her. Her mom reached to her room and knocked at the door several times. When Rebeca didn’t answer or come out of the room, after several unsuccessful attempts the mother started panicking and called her husband. “Peter… Peter…. Can you please come? Rebeca is not opening the door….” Peter rushed towards the room and banged the door a few more times but there was no response. Panic shook the family to the grit. They broke into the room and froze on the tracks. They were in complete shock as their daughter, Rebeca was hanging from the ceiling. She chose to take her life as she couldn’t bear the humiliation anymore. Peter found a note on the table, “Sorry, mom and dad, I Love you both, but I cannot go through all of these for the rest of my life.”
One evening, during summer break, Rebecca and her family were to visit her Granny’s place. Everybody was ready other than her.
The neighbors called the ambulance and informed the police. The police took the body for autopsy and then handed over the body back to the family after 24 hours.
It was an open and shut case of suicide. But was it so? Rebecca’s parents knew there was more to it and they were determined to find out. The devastated couple needed closure, a reason for the chaos, which led their daughter to take her life.
It was an open and shut case of suicide. But was it so?
Rebecca’s parents found a few disturbing scribbles and pictures at the back of her notebook. When they visited her school, to their utter disbelief, they found out that there were several kids in school who bullied her every single day. Further to the investigation, they found that Rebeca had complained about the events multiple times to management, faculties, and to the Headmaster as well. Every time, her complaints went unheard and she asked to ignore such things. The faculties always dismissed her saying those were her fellow mates and they are just playing with her. She was told she was overthinking it. None acknowledged her suffering nor stopped the practice of bullying in the school.
If everyone at school had not taken this matter so lightly, it would not have cost Rebecca her life.
If everyone at school had not taken this matter so lightly, it would not have cost Rebecca her life. Rebecca’s mother wanted the bullies to be punished and she registered a case against the students involved and the negligent school management.
It is three months today since Rebecca left all of us. The case is still going on with no conclusion. With no substantial proof, the court could not take any actions, and unfortunately, there was no other evidence other than a suicide note, which clearly did not mention any reason. Rebecca’s case was weak, and it is only a matter of time that the case would be closed with probably a mere warning to all parties involved.
But will Rebecca ever get any justice?
But will Rebecca ever get any justice? Rebecca’s parents are devastated and seeing the case close would break them even more. They could not fathom what their little girl might have undergone all this while and knowing the fact that she never took the courage to come speak to them would kill them all the more each passing day. Rebecca’s parents now feel that they failed in parenting. And it is obvious to feel. Had there been that level of communication and life lessons imparted, had they spent time with her to find out about her life, the situation would have been different. The ignorant faculty would keep the same course and the bullies would roam freely again and who knows, probably weeks down the line, there would be news of another Rebecca at some other street.
Yes, raising a kid is not easy but imparting life lessons, responsibilities, etiquettes, and the difference between right and wrong are the responsibility of us adults as parents, guardians, and teachers. We all have to come together to bring the change. We all have to save our Rebecca’s!
“Bullying is never fun, it’s a cruel and terrible thing to do to someone. If you are being bullied, it is not your fault. No one deserves to be bullied, ever.” ~ Raini Rodriguez
Visual by Different Truths
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