Chapter no 5
A Lie in Uniform
The first time Lina saw the inside of a school, she was five years old.
It should have been one of the happiest moments in her life.
Instead, it became the day she learned that even kindness could come wrapped in a lie.
The Morning of Hope
The sun rose slowly over the small village, spilling light through the mist. Marla woke early to make breakfast as she always did. The aroma of warm bread drifted through the house.
Lina sat quietly in the corner, still rubbing the sleep from her eyes. Her brother Adriel stood on a stool while his mother fussed over him, smoothing the wrinkles in his new school uniform.
He looked perfect, his shoes polished, hair combed, a bright blue ribbon at his collar.
"You'll make us proud, Adi," his father told him, patting his shoulder. "Our son — the first in the family to start school."
Lina watched silently.
The word our stung more than she wanted to admit.
When Adriel turned toward her, she offered a shy smile.
She whispered hopefully, "Maybe they'll let me go too?"
Her mother frowned. "Go where?"
Lina hesitated. "To… school. I can help Adi. I can learn too."
The room was silent for a moment. Then both parents burst out laughing - not warmly, but cuttingly.
Her father scoffed. "You? Learn? Who'll pay for that?"
Marla stood frozen at the sink, her heart aching.
Pero entonces Adriel, in his innocent pride, said, "But Mama, she can come with me! The teacher will like her. She's quiet."
Her mother's laughter faded. An idea flickered behind her eyes-cruel and careless.
"Well," she said slowly, "maybe she can go… if they think she's not ours."
Lina didn't understand. "Not yours?"
Her mother knelt, forcing a smile that didn't reach her eyes.
"You'll go along as Marla's friend's daughter, alright? Say you're helping us. Just don't tell anyone you live here."
Marla turned sharply. "Madam—"
Her employer silenced her with a glare. "You wanted her to have a chance? There. I'm giving it to her. A small one."
It wasn't kindness; it was mockery dressed as mercy.
Lina didn't see that. All she saw was a door finally opening.
Her little face lit up. "I can go?"
Her mother nodded. "Yes. But remember — you're not one of us."
Lina didn't understand fully the importance of those words then, but she remembered them all the same.
The Walk to School
The air was cool that morning as they walked to the village school. Adriel skipped ahead, swinging his lunchbox, calling out hellos to other children. Lina followed a few steps behind, her hands clasped tightly together, wearing an old dress Marla had mended three times.
Her shoes did not match; one was too big, the other too small.
Still, she smiled; for the first time, she was going to sit among children of her age.
Marla walked with them, her heart torn. She carried Lina's small bag-a worn satchel with a single book inside, one which Marla had bought secretly from the market.
When they reached the gate, children were laughing and running. Their voices filled the air like music.
Lina's heart is racing with excitement.
But just before they went inside, her father spoke with the teacher who waited by the entrance.
"This is our son, Adriel," he said proudly, his hand resting on Adi's shoulder. Then, gesturing toward Lina, his tone changed — flat, indifferent.
"And that one's the maid's friend's girl. She'll sit quietly, won't be any trouble. Just keep an eye on her for us — we want the boy to be treated well."
He said it right in front of her.
The words fell into her chest like stones, and Lina looked up, puzzled.
The teacher nodded awkwardly. "Of course. We'll take good care of. both."
Her father didn't even glance at her again. He patted Adriel's head, waved, and walked away.
Marla knelt to fix the ribbon on Lina's collar. "Don't listen to them," she whispered. "Just be brave. Learn everything you can."
Lina nodded, eyes shining with determination.
She didn't know what "brave" truly meant yet, but she would learn.
The First Day
The classroom was warm and smelled faintly of chalk and old wood. The small desks lined the room in rows. Children whispered and giggled.
Lina sat in the back, next to the window. She watched as her brother immediately began making friends, laughing with a group of boys.
The teacher smiled kindly and said, "You're Lina, right? Come sit here.
She nodded shyly and sat down. The teacher set a small slate board before her, handing her a piece of chalk.
"Write your name," she said softly.
Lina looked at the blank board for a long time. Then, slowly she drew uneven letters:
L… I… N… A.
It wasn't perfect, but it was hers.
The teacher smiled. "Well done."
Lina's heart swelled with quiet, glowing pride.
For the first time in her short life, someone had said well done to her.
The Lie
At the end of the afternoon, when school was over, the teacher spoke to the parents who came to fetch their children.
Lina waited quietly at the gate, clutching her satchel.
Her mother arrived late, wearing her fine shawl. She ignored Lina completely and swept Adriel into her arms. "My clever boy! How was your first day?"
He grinned. "I made new friends, Mama!"
Lina smiled wistfully and moved closer. "Mama, I—"
Her mother cut her off sharply. "Don't call me that here."
The words hit her like a slap.
She froze. "But… you are—"
Her mother's eyes hardened. "Remember what I told you. You're not ours. You're just helping."
Then she turned to the teacher and laughed softly. "Thank you for watching them. I hope our friend's daughter behaved."
The teacher looked hesitantly from one to the other but said nothing.
Lina looked down at her shoes.
The dirt blurred beneath her tears.
The Silent Ride Home
On the way back, Adriel chattered endlessly about games, friends, and snacks. Their parents listened, smiling.
Lina sat next to Marla in the back and looked out the window.
Marla reached over and took her hand softly. "Learn something?"
Lina nodded, her voice small, yet certain. "Yes, I learned that lies can sound like kindness. Marla's chest ached. She clutched the girl's hand tightly. "Then promise me one thing, Lina. Never let their lies change who you are." Lina looked up at her, eyes shining. "I promise." Outside, the sun had dipped low and painted the sky with gold and crimson. For the first time, the faint shimmer of two glowing hands appeared in the glass reflection beside her-unseen by anyone else. They lay softly on her slight shoulders, silent guardians.