Lena held onto those words like a lifeline. Despite the constant ridicule, she poured herself into her studies, staying up late under the dim glow of a small lamp, doing everything she could to excel. She became the top student in every class and even took part-time tutoring jobs to support her mother. Yet, she remained unnoticed and alone.
She had no friends to walk with, no one to share lunch with, and no one who asked how she was. To everyone else, she was just the daughter of the trash collector, and nothing more.
