Broken glasses

Ella prepared the lunch and then stored it in boxes, she cooked some rice and stir-fried vegetables.

There wasn't anything left in the fridge now, she put those lunch boxes inside the fridge and felt a pang when she saw the inside of the fridge, that was vacant there was nothing left in the fridge, no vegetables, no eggs, no meat, nothing to eat.

This made her anxious a little bit, then she looked on the shelves of the kitchen and there was also nothing left they have ran out of everything.

Ella thought that today somehow she had to bring the groceries otherwise her children would have to remain hungry at night again, even though she hadn't also eaten anything more than herself she was worried about her children going hungry. She was an adult she could make do with a little less food but her children were still growing they needed all the nutrients, they could.

Ella then went to Amelia's room to see her off before going for her job.

Amelia was lying on her bed, her gaze fell on the burnt marks on her skin and immediately she was reminded of the horrifying memories from last night, the evil face of Mr Richardson popped in front of her eyes.

His evil laugh gave her chills, she was very frightened and when Ella entered her room suddenly she jumped up

. Ella saw her jump and asked in concern, "Amelia are you ok? did something happen to  you?"

Amelia didn't want her mother to be worried for her before going on her job so she made an excuse."Nothing Mum! I am fine, actually, you suddenly entered my room so I was startled by it."

Ella believed her and didn't ask anything about it.

Then she told her about the food in the fridge, "Ok, Amelia I prepared lunch for you and Cesar and kept the lunchboxes in the fridge when Cesar comes back from school ask him to heat the food in the afternoon, don't be lazy and eat it cold, all right?"

Amelia heard her mother and then said, "Did you keep the lunch for yourself Mum?"

Ella stiffened slightly upon hearing this unexpected question, she smiled and lied smoothly, "Yes! I had kept my lunch with myself."

"Mum! I know you are lying, if Cesar had to go to school without eating anything then how could you pack yourself a lunch then?" Amelia immediately cottoned on.

"Amelia there is nothing left now and I made lunch from what was left for you two. We have run out of groceries, how can mommy make lunch for myself?"

Amelia immediately followed it up, "Why don't you take the lunch that you made for us? take my part from it I had eaten a very heavy breakfast and I don't think I will be hungry by evening until then you also bring the groceries. I will now eat dinner only."

Ella tried to make her understand, "Amelia you are sick and you have to take your medicines from time to time. If you don't eat your food then you cannot eat the medicines and if you don't eat the medicines then how will you get fit?"

Amelia tried to argue with her over this topic but Ella remained adamant, she came near to her, gently cupped her face and said, "Amelia, more than me, you need to eat and you are much more important to me, I need to see you go back to being healthy and for this, even if I starve then I will starve, its just one-time thing anyway. Don't worry I will bring the groceries then I will cook a delicious dinner for all of us and we will eat together, Ok?"

Amelia knew that she couldn't fight her mother and simply nodded her head, Ella was also relieved that Amelia finally understood. Ella then got up and said, "Ok, Amelia I have to go now you take care of yourself and don't go out of the house until your brother comes back."

After Ella gave her the instructions she then said bye to Amelia and left the house.

Before leaving the house she made sure that the door was locked properly.

After she checked the door, she finally left the house and went to her job.

After she walked a few miles away from her house she looked back at the house with concern, she hesitated before she continued walking.

Cesar entered his classroom, as soon as he walked inside, every classmate of his started to laugh at him when they noticed that he was wearing broken glasses.

Some bullies started to make fun of him by calling him names.

Cesar didn't retort just simply walked to his seat and silently sat on the last bench of the classroom but to his classmate, this sign of weakness was like an early Christmas gift.

One of the guys chuckled and said, " God, every time I see him my mood gets worse. Just look at his pathetic self."

A girl sitting a bit far from him started to take a jibe at him, "Why is that idiot wearing broken glasses does he want to make himself look more pathetic?"

A girl sitting next to her replied, "If he is doing this to make himself look pathetic, then seriously he needs to stop because he cannot get any more pathetic than that."

Cesar listened to everyone's insults and felt embarrassed, he was also angered to the max but he chose to remain silent and tolerate everything, he was already hurt by Mr Richa last night, and taking another beating was something he wasn't up for at the moment.

While he was sitting silently in his seat suddenly a guy pulled off his glasses and then started taunting him, " Hey where did you get these antiques? Did you buy them from someone in the eighties?"

Cesar tried to take back his glasses but he was easily manhandled by his bully—— Andrew loved to bully him, he was Cesar's worst nightmare because Andrew made his school life a living hell for him.

Andrew had done a lot of bad things to Cesar and today again he was trying to ruin his day.

He violently wrapped his arm around Cesar's neck and poked fun at him, "Hey! everyone looks at Cesar's glasses, do you all know why these glasses are broken?

Everyone in the class asked why.

"Because he deserves it for being ten times more stupid."

Laughter echoed in the class——nobody took a stand for Cesar instead everyone was enjoying him being bullied by Andrew.

And why would they when he couldn't stand up for himself?

Cesar struggled to breathe as Andrew's hold on his neck started to tighten even more.