Just a Different Way (text by Florencia and illustration by Ruth)

Clara was the typical intelligent student of the class. She didn’t go out with friends nor at night to clubs. But that didn’t mean that she spent the whole year studying, sitting all day reading piles and piles of books. She had another life apart from school, apart from her classmates’ jokes, which made her feel bad. A different life. After school, she went by bus to dance classes everyday, where she trained six hours a day. That was what she loved; that was her real life, where she could be perfect. While she danced, her classmates’ teasing disappeared from her mind and she could be what she loved most. The great day was coming and her talent was going to be shown. For the first time, her classmates went to the theater to see her dance,with the intention of racking her. She walked out through the curtain, and left them all speechless. She was excellent doing what she did. They realized that and were immediately sorry for everything. In the last part of the show, she fainted and was taken to hospital. When her classmates arrived there to apologize, it was too late...

NOTE: The previous story and illustration were submitted to the "Cuentos de mi Ciudad" Contest, organised by The Bristish Council and KEL Ediciones.