Prologue - Scars to Your Beautiful

Well, hey there! My name is Hope, which is something ironical, because that's literally the last thing I have while facing school. Not that my grades are bad (not at all), they're pretty fine, actually. But I wish I could say the same thing about friendships.

It seems to me as if I don't belong there - as if I don't belong anywhere, to be honest - and the other students and employees are the main cause of that. Even though most of them stick to the old not-so-offensive words, like "weirdo" and "strange", there are the ones that go beyond.

Being pushed, invaded and public humiliated are part of my everyday routine. Not to mention the constant vandalism directed to my locker, books, bag and even clothes.

I've already tried complaining about it to the principal, to my parents and even to the police, but none of them seem to care about my mental or physical health.

I've also thought of changing my look. Maybe straightening or waving my curly hair, wearing blue contact lenses instead of my usual glasses, or those really tiny shorts instead of my jeans, but I guess it wouldn't change a thing.

As a matter of fact, it might even make things worse. The jokes would be about me trying to fit the ambient and failing miserably on it.

There's only one thing I really always wished: being able to be accepted just as I am. I'm tired of so many scars, but I know the world's heart it's not going to change for me in pity. It would laugh at me, like everyone else.