Clara was there, her wheelchair next to the table, her plate of pancakes in front of her like a fragile shield. At sixteen, she had learned to face the stares, the whispers, and the pity. But nothing had prepared her for what was about to happen.

Nearby, a group of boys laughed cruelly. 😱 One of them knocked over his plate, sending the pancakes falling to the floor, syrup spilling everywhere. Another shoved her wheelchair, making it wobble.

The diner froze. 😱 Forks hung in the air, conversations died down. The boys’ laughter echoed, sharp as broken glass. Clara held back her tears, but the humiliation was stronger than the pain. 😱