Your mother died when she gave birth to you. Five years later, your father remarried. Your stepmother was a doctor. She appeared kind and caring, especially in front of your father, and he trusted her completely.

Whenever your father left for business trips, everything changed.

One night, your stepmother brought you into a private room at home and told you it was for a medical checkup. You did not understand what was happening until you woke up in pain. She had surgically removed your vocal cords. After that, when she abused you, you could not scream. You could not cry for help. She brought other men into the house when your father was away, knowing you could never expose her.

When your father returned, you tried to tell him. You cried and begged, but no sound came out.

Your stepmother held you and said calmly, “She was in a car accident. Her throat was badly injured. She lost her voice.”

Your father believed her.

Years passed, and you endured everything in silence.

At school, the bullying never stopped. Students mocked you because you could not speak. They laughed when you cried without sound. You had no way to defend yourself.

But one person noticed you.

His name was Noah Lafayette. He was rich, handsome, and the captain of the basketball team. Everyone admired him. Unlike the others, he was gentle with you. He greeted you every morning and waited for you after class. He even learned sign language so he could talk to you.

One afternoon, he signed to you, “Are you tired today?”

You nodded and smiled.

That evening, you stayed late at school for an extra class to prepare for an upcoming exam. When the class ended, you packed your bag and walked out into the hallway, thinking it was already empty.

You were wrong.

A group of bullies was waiting.

They surrounded you before you could turn back. One of them laughed and grabbed your arm. Another pushed you toward the girls’ bathroom.

You struggled, but they were stronger.

They shoved you inside, locked the door, and turned off the lights.

Then they ran out of the school.

“You should have seen her face,” one of them laughed near the gate. “It was hilarious.”

Noah heard them as he was leaving.

“Where is she?” he asked immediately.

“Relax, Romeo,” the leader said. “She’s fine. Just scared.”

Noah grabbed his collar. “Where is she?”

The boy scoffed. “Girls’ bathroom.”

Noah let go and ran back into the school.

Inside the bathroom, you were curled up on the floor in complete darkness. Tears fell silently down your face. You tried to cry out, but no sound came. You already knew no one could hear you.

Then the door opened.

Light filled the room.

Noah stood there, breathing hard. When he saw you alone on the floor, shaking and crying without a sound, his chest tightened painfully.

He rushed to you and knelt beside you.

“It’s okay,” he said softly. “I’m here.”