Read on Twitter
#vss365
It had been years since school. Then *she* reappeared.
My old rival.
Did I like, or hate her? Then, as now, I didn't know. But part of me needed her.
How she had changed. There was no way I could compete on these terms. She bent to my neck, marking me like a #vampire.
It had been years since school. Then *she* reappeared.
My old rival.
Did I like, or hate her? Then, as now, I didn't know. But part of me needed her.
How she had changed. There was no way I could compete on these terms. She bent to my neck, marking me like a #vampire.
She liked him for a long time at school, but he remained indifferent to her. She could only ever gain his attention by besting him in various pursuits.
His upbringing left a chip on his shoulder. He views her as someone who enjoys humiliating him.
What could possibly go wrong?
His upbringing left a chip on his shoulder. He views her as someone who enjoys humiliating him.
What could possibly go wrong?
#vss365
Most nights, he'd be round at the pub. The life of the party. Of course he was - who doesn't love free beer?
His ill-gotten gains paid for ego boosts and tip-offs. The #vulture. Life was both work and play to him.
At home, Dad was an entirely different kind of animal.
Most nights, he'd be round at the pub. The life of the party. Of course he was - who doesn't love free beer?
His ill-gotten gains paid for ego boosts and tip-offs. The #vulture. Life was both work and play to him.
At home, Dad was an entirely different kind of animal.
#vss365
Fathers, do not #vex your children, states the good book. Mine went above and beyond.
"What the hell's that meant to be of?" he sneered, scrunching up a painting I'd worked on for the last month.
"Last in the race? You're weak!"
Mum knew better than to get involved.
Fathers, do not #vex your children, states the good book. Mine went above and beyond.
"What the hell's that meant to be of?" he sneered, scrunching up a painting I'd worked on for the last month.
"Last in the race? You're weak!"
Mum knew better than to get involved.
#vss365
I had no idea whether it was as a result of some #vendetta, or a shady business deal gone awry.
What I did know was that someone had taken a vigorous dislike to him. Mum was rather upset for a time.
I also knew that, as the dirt landed atop his casket, I felt nothing.
I had no idea whether it was as a result of some #vendetta, or a shady business deal gone awry.
What I did know was that someone had taken a vigorous dislike to him. Mum was rather upset for a time.
I also knew that, as the dirt landed atop his casket, I felt nothing.
#vss365
She started at my school near the end of Year 8, not long after Dad's passing. We had some joint classes. In all of them, she crushed me.
Sometimes I caught her staring at me. In her eyes, I saw an unsettling frankness which challenged my meagre #vocabulary to describe.
She started at my school near the end of Year 8, not long after Dad's passing. We had some joint classes. In all of them, she crushed me.
Sometimes I caught her staring at me. In her eyes, I saw an unsettling frankness which challenged my meagre #vocabulary to describe.
#vss365
I certainly wasn't popular.
I shrugged off most taunts. But then they'd insinuate things about my mum. My "aggressive behaviour" would result in another trip to the principal's office.
Consequently I'd often take refuge in the library, and only #vacate after the bell.
I certainly wasn't popular.
I shrugged off most taunts. But then they'd insinuate things about my mum. My "aggressive behaviour" would result in another trip to the principal's office.
Consequently I'd often take refuge in the library, and only #vacate after the bell.
#vss365
Once, they decided to #shadow me. Two held me as a third prepared to anoint me with milk.
Then she appeared.
"Don't you have anything better to do with your sad lives?"
They dispersed. But I was then teased over my "new girlfriend".
That was when I began to hate her.
Once, they decided to #shadow me. Two held me as a third prepared to anoint me with milk.
Then she appeared.
"Don't you have anything better to do with your sad lives?"
They dispersed. But I was then teased over my "new girlfriend".
That was when I began to hate her.
#vss365
I determined to improve myself. My astounded PE teacher offered tips on enhancing my fitness. Scraping together my pitiful savings, I enrolled in classes at the local dojo.
Beating the bullies sure boosted my #ego, but it wasn't enough. No, I had to win against her...
I determined to improve myself. My astounded PE teacher offered tips on enhancing my fitness. Scraping together my pitiful savings, I enrolled in classes at the local dojo.
Beating the bullies sure boosted my #ego, but it wasn't enough. No, I had to win against her...
#vss365
In Year 9, we were in even more classes together.
As before, she dominated. She was so damn smart - I had to give her that.
That just meant I needed to be smarter.
When she turned to wish me success ahead of a test, my #filter came off. She saw the hatred in my eyes.
In Year 9, we were in even more classes together.
As before, she dominated. She was so damn smart - I had to give her that.
That just meant I needed to be smarter.
When she turned to wish me success ahead of a test, my #filter came off. She saw the hatred in my eyes.
#vss365
I couldn't completely shed the #stigma of earlier school life. But those who once troubled me now steered clear - and that was good enough for me.
Yet despite my best efforts to passively repel her, *she* was never phased. Always that gaze - which twisted my brains.
I couldn't completely shed the #stigma of earlier school life. But those who once troubled me now steered clear - and that was good enough for me.
Yet despite my best efforts to passively repel her, *she* was never phased. Always that gaze - which twisted my brains.
PS: My first attempt at shopping an image. It was certainly not on account of the model in question - I just wanted to B&W and soften the shot a little.
Unfortunately, adding this note stuffed up the thread continuity. If you're interested in the rest of the story, simply navigate back up a little.
