Tori's Exceptionality

It was Tori's first day of her freshman year at the Haven Academy in East Haven, England. She's been so excited to attend this school for years, but she was also very, very nervous.

As Tori began finding her first class, her nerves only grew stronger within her. Soon enough, the never ending thoughts and questions began popping in her head.

What if I trip when I walk in? What if they don't like me? What if they find out I'm different?

Tori was trying to calm her nerves. She was trying to calm her anxiety. She was taking deep breaths, counting to ten, but... But, nothing was working.

Deep breaths, Tori... Deep breaths.

Tori approached her first class, History. Her palms were sweating and the self-doubt thoughts kept coming. She thought she was going to be sick.

She couldn't--she couldn't go in to the classroom. Despite all the years she dreamed of attending here, she couldn't take the final step. Because she knew she wouldn't be as smart as those students on the other side of that door. So, Tori let her anxiety get the best of her, and she turned and ran out of the academy, crying.

Tori found herself wondering around in the garden. She paused at a fountain and began staring at her reflection.

"Hello, Miss."

The voice spooked Tori, and she jumped as she turned around to see who that voice had belonged to. She hadn't realized someone else had also come out into the garden. 

The man approached her as he said, "Forgive me, I didn't mean to startle you. But may I ask what you are doing out here? Classes have already begun."

"I--" Tori sniffed, wiping the remaining of her tears away before she continued speaking. "I'm a new student, and I just couldn't bring myself to walk through the classroom doors. I... I don't belong here."

"What makes you think you don't belong here?" the man asked her.

"I'm just not as smart as everyone here. They're all better than me."

"You passed the entrance exam didn't you?"

She had. She studied long and hard for that exam, and she scored great on it. "I-I did," she replied hesitantly.

"Well then of course you belong here!"

"No--No, y-you don't understand. They will all laugh at me. Just like the students at my last school," Tori said, defeated.

"You're right," he began softly, "I don't understand. Would you mind explaining it to me?"

She was hesitant at first, but then she did. Tori explained everything. She told him how she was dyslexic, with writing and reading. Sometimes she'd even jumble her words as she was speaking. And everyone always laughed. They thought she was funny, and although she sometimes laughed with them, she just saw herself as something comical and not worth any more than that.