Short Circuit

Lina stepped through the school gate, hoodie up, trying to go unnoticed. A group of tall girls spotted her instantly. "Look, it’s Short Circuit again!" one of them laughed, closing in with the others. Even though her real name was Lina, no one called her that anymore. The nickname clung to her like a curse, mocking her 4-foot height. Surrounded, she stood silent, wishing she could vanish, knowing the teasing was about to begin all over again.