Indifferent: A Short Story About The Consequences Of Bullying

Before I know it, most of the week has come to an end. It is now another night for the weekly meeting of the Anti-Bullying Club. I recite the club’s mantra as our meeting begins: “We will no longer be indifferent to what is happening! We will address the issues and then take action!”

Suddenly, I saw someone I never expected to arrive: Travis.

I abruptly ended my speech, so that I could go see him, “Thank you, thank you!” I managed, “Now, I ask for one of us to take the stand!”

Perfect. Julie raised her hand.

“Please give a round of applause for Julie!”

One of our first original members, shy Julie, was brave and volunteered to take the stage. I could hear her speaking into the microphone as she meekly, but passionately spoke:

“Hi everybody. This is Julie. You all know me as the president of the book club…”

“Travis, why are you here? What are you doing here?” I asked when I finally was in front of him, feeling as if I was witnessing a miracle.

He said my name, then tightened his jaw.

“I had a dream about Bianca last night.”

Julie continued in the background: “If a girl like me can be brave and speak to all of you, then anyone can do it.”

“So, why are you here?” I repeated.

“I should have stood up for her,” Travis frowned, “I should have never let it get as far as it did.”

I didn’t know what to say.

“Speak your truth!” Julie passionately proclaimed as the audience began to clap, “Believe that you can belong, and that you don’t need anyone’s permission!”

“Bianca she was…” Travis softly spoke, “She is…I…”

“Telling me won’t make any difference,” I blurted.

“Don’t be afraid to speak out!” Julie continued, “If you see something, say something!”

I began to hear applause again.

What I had just said to Travis sounded worse than I had intended it to be. Travis tightened his jaw again, holding in his emotions. I hadn’t seen a vulnerable side to him since our fight and I felt my heart quicken in pace. What was wrong with me? I decided to keep my new feelings held in, also. I maintained a poker face.

“I have to tell someone,” Travis finally responded, his voice clear and unwavering, “My parents don’t ever want me mentioning her name again.”

“We will not remain indifferent to what happens around us,” Julie passionately spoke, “Not anymore!”

“They view me as responsible for her death, too,” he admitted to me.

“Say it with me!” Julie declared in the background.

“I can’t believe I’m saying this,” I sighed, trying to block what was happening on stage, “Listen Travis…since you apologized to me that day…I forgive you.”

There was a long silence between us as we looked into each other’s eyes again.

I hear continuous, loud applause. Julie finished her pep talk and so she went to pass on the microphone to Mrs. Ernest.

“Thank you, Julie,” Mrs. Ernest began, “What a great start to our meeting. I’d like to draw the attention to someone who’s joined us a little late.”

She pointed in me and Travis’ direction.

“How about you come up and introduce yourself?”

I quickly began to shake my head and wave my arms to say “No!”

She looked confused.

I heard Travis laughing softly.

“I finally came to the meeting and now you don’t want me here?” he asked.

“I want you here, Travis!” I quickly said, “I just—”

A long pause was felt between us.

“I’ve missed you,” I finally admitted.

We continued to stare at each other, not sure what to say to each other in that moment.

Mrs. Ernest finally repeated herself, “How about you come up and introduce yourself, Travis?”

She knew who he was.

The crowd below us begins to applause. One of the most both loved and resented of our classmates had decide to make an appearance to our group. It was an occasion worth celebrating and giving Travis the spotlight for. I gently rubbed my hand across his back and hugged him from the side. He hugged me back.

“Don’t be shy, young man!” Mrs. Ernest repeated, “We’re waiting for you.”

We smiled at each other once more before Travis proudly went towards the stage.