Nina’s final year of school was nothing short of a nightmare. The carefree atmosphere of her classmates, who now seemed more concerned with relationships, money, and clothes than their studies, left her feeling isolated. While others were planning bright futures, Nina could barely imagine hers. Her family’s financial situation was dire, and hand-me-downs were her reality. She couldn’t remember the last time she wore a new dress. Perhaps it had been in her early school years—back when her father was a different man and her mother was still alive.
Classmates seldom interacted with her, except to ridicule. This year, the bullying escalated. The taunts, once sporadic, had become a daily occurrence. Today, however, they crossed a line.
It began in first period. Nina hesitated to approach the blackboard, dreading the mocking glances and comments that would follow. “May I answer from my seat, Galina Andreevna?” she asked softly.
A snide voice piped up from the back of the classroom: “She’s scared everyone will see how many patches are holding her dress together.”
“Or that it’ll fall apart if she moves too much!” another added, sparking laughter.
Nina’s face burned as the room erupted into cruel giggles. The teacher’s attempts to quiet them were in vain. “Novikova,” one girl jeered, “what are you going to wear to graduation? Trash bags?”
Overwhelmed, Nina grabbed her bag and fled the classroom. She barely heard her teacher calling after her. The humiliation stung, but it was the truth behind the words that hurt most. Her family couldn’t afford a graduation dress—or much of anything, for that matter.
At home, her father lay sprawled on the couch, reeking of alcohol. The kitchen was a disaster: cigarette butts, empty bottles, and sticky stains covered every surface. This was her reality. She threw open the windows, letting in the fresh spring air, and began cleaning. Her thoughts turned to her late mother, wishing she were there to guide her.
Her father stirred, standing in the doorway. At 45, he looked decades older, his body worn by years of drinking. “Why are you home early, daughter?” he asked, his voice slurred.
Nina’s frustration boiled over. “Because I have no place among normal people at school!” she snapped before storming out of the house.
Outside, she ran into Inna Romanovna, a kind woman who worked in the pharmacy downstairs. Seeing Nina’s tear-streaked face, she offered a listening ear. Between sobs, Nina poured out her heart, recounting the day’s events.
“Let’s talk to the principal,” Inna suggested indignantly. “This behavior is unacceptable.”
“It won’t help,” Nina replied. “What I really need is a job, so I can save up for graduation and get away from my father.”
Inna nodded thoughtfully. “Come by tomorrow after lunch. I’ll see what I can do.”
True to her word, Inna helped Nina find a night job as a cleaner at the hospital. The work was exhausting, but Nina didn’t mind. She was determined to earn enough money to buy her own dress and silence her bullies.
At school, the taunts continued. Svetlova, the self-proclaimed queen of the class, couldn’t resist targeting Nina. “Did you find a dress in the trash yet, Novikova?” she sneered one day. Nina ignored her, focusing on her textbooks. But when Svetlova quipped, “Maybe you’ll bring a date from the dump too,” Nina had had enough.
“Would he be suitable for you?” Nina shot back, her voice steady. Laughter erupted, leaving Svetlova momentarily speechless.
As graduation approached, Nina worked tirelessly at the hospital. One night, a young boy was admitted after a scooter accident. His panicked nanny explained that his father, a wealthy businessman named Igor, would be furious if he found out. Nina took charge, calming both the boy and the nanny.
When Igor called, his anger was palpable. “I’ll have everyone fired for this!” he shouted.
“Calm down!” Nina retorted. “Your son is fine. Children fall—it happens. What’s more concerning is how terrified everyone is of you.”
Her boldness silenced him. After a pause, Igor asked if his son could stay somewhere discreet until he returned. Despite her reservations, Nina reluctantly agreed to take them to her home. To her surprise, her father had cleaned the apartment and even prepared food. For the first time in years, he apologized, handing her some money. “Buy yourself a dress for graduation,” he said. “I’ve got a job starting tomorrow.”
Nina couldn’t hold back her tears. With the nanny’s help, she bought a beautiful dress, visited a salon, and learned to waltz. On graduation night, she stepped out of a taxi wearing the dress, her hair and makeup flawless. Igor himself accompanied her, much to the shock of her classmates. Svetlova, outshone and humiliated, tore off her graduation ribbon and left in a huff.
The evening was magical. As Igor adjusted the prom queen crown on Nina’s head, he said softly, “This is just the beginning. There’s so much ahead.”
Three years later, Nina was preparing for her wedding. She had stayed true to her promise, completing three years of university before planning her future with Igor. As she browsed dresses at a boutique, she froze—Svetlova was the sales assistant.
Svetlova’s face turned red as recognition dawned. Nina smiled, her voice light but cutting. “Do you have anything from the dumpster? No? Then I guess we’ll shop elsewhere.”
Nina walked out, her confidence unshakable, ready to embrace the life she had built with determination and grace.