Wallflower Girl.
I’m a wallflower, I understand. I see things that people miss out on,
Like when my friend from swimming lost her earring and I was the one who dove deep into the pool to find it.
But I also mean when in Year 6, the boy I used to dream about since Year 3 came in with a new catchphrase and later in Year 6 I finally found out who he was trying to impersonate, and laughed.
I’m a wallflower and I’ve read about others. I see people on the bus, road or in their cars and study them until I figure out where they are going and why.
But if I was going into the Squid Games, and they asked me what Evan’s favourite colour was I’d be able to tell you, or why Mr Hartley had a mullet even though he was a grown man reaching 38. I’d be able to tell you why Madison and Holly were always considered the best of friends, even if they don’t see the trauma it causes.
I’d be able to tell you the colour of the sky when Alfie chucked his lunchbox on the roof, or when we ran as fast as we can to avoid being labelled as the kid dating the freak. I’d be able to tell you how sad I felt when everyone found out about me and Aidan or when Alfie rejected me on the third day of school. I’d be able to tell you whether Daniel really cared when he told me he “kind of likes” me. Or when Evan signed my sweaty Year 6 Leavers shirt in his messy writing but my heart stopped beating anyway.
I’m a wallflower and that’s why I notice things so much. I understand when people don’t, and maybe that’s why I am hated so much. For noticing.
But if there was one thing I could ask of my life, I would ask to re-do. I would march into that disgustingly hot Year 3 classroom on test day Wednesday and finish the test before everyone else.
I wouldn’t trust Ember instead I would make friends with Louis and Freddy and when Louis complimented my writing I would thank him and smile.
I would ignore Aidan and talk to Alfie and hear the funny stories that I was not there to experience but were funny anyway.
I would like my teachers and in Year 4, I would finally have the courage to sit next to Alfie and Louis and his friends in the hall. I’d beg Mum for packed lunches so I would skip the rush to get a good seat.
I’d be happy for Mikaela even if she didn’t deserve Evan. And in Year 5, I would acknowledge Evan a lot more and he would have a crush on me. Then one day, I would tell him and it’s up to him how he would reply. Then he would break up with Mikaela and all the girls will hate me but that will be okay because I won’t see them in high school.
In Year 6, I would leave Mr Hartley alone. I wouldn’t answer that much and still write quirky things that make them want to throw up but I wouldn’t talk too much. Mrs Chaudhuri would be my go-to TA and I would talk to Kiran about things like this.
But now, I’m in Year 8 and my whole childhood feels messed up and awkward. But I’m a wallflower and I can’t change that. Maybe I needed to be more of one not less of one. And if I could go back in time and do one thing to everyone in my class that I remember I would:
Holly– Talk to her. Say sorry for the things that happened in primary school.
Madison – Two words, slap her. She was horrible to me and embarrassed me a lot.
Daisy – Hug her. She was my best friend.
Freddy – Smile and wave at him or wish him luck in school.
Louis – Hug him. Thanking him for trying to be my friend, even if he didn’t mean to.
Carter – Wish him luck at Nightingale Academy.
Rory – Tell him that I’ve moved and to still look out for that haunted house.
Toby – Tell him to stay away from Malina and don’t tell her anything about me.
Stevie – Probably slap him too.
Alfie – Say goodbye to him and wish him luck, and maybe hug him?
Evan – Probably laugh with him about something, and definitely hug him.
The fact is, I will never see any of these people ever again. Ever. And that sort of relief is refreshing but my regret grows deeper.
I’m a wallflower girl, there are certain ups and downs to it. You don’t always have to be perfect and your actions show for that but nevertheless noticing things and thinking deeply about things is never going to be a bad thing.
It’s a gift.
Jan 21
Jan 21, 2026 at 1:55 PM UTC
Wallflower Girl.
I’m a wallflower, I understand. I see things that people miss out on,
Like when my friend from swimming lost her earring and I was the one who dove deep into the pool to find it.
But I also mean when in Year 6, the boy I used to dream about since Year 3 came in with a new catchphrase and later in Year 6 I finally found out who he was trying to impersonate, and laughed.
I’m a wallflower and I’ve read about others. I see people on the bus, road or in their cars and study them until I figure out where they are going and why.
But if I was going into the Squid Games, and they asked me what Evan’s favourite colour was I’d be able to tell you, or why Mr Hartley had a mullet even though he was a grown man reaching 38. I’d be able to tell you why Madison and Holly were always considered the best of friends, even if they don’t see the trauma it causes.
I’d be able to tell you the colour of the sky when Alfie chucked his lunchbox on the roof, or when we ran as fast as we can to avoid being labelled as the kid dating the freak. I’d be able to tell you how sad I felt when everyone found out about me and Aidan or when Alfie rejected me on the third day of school. I’d be able to tell you whether Daniel really cared when he told me he “kind of likes” me. Or when Evan signed my sweaty Year 6 Leavers shirt in his messy writing but my heart stopped beating anyway.
I’m a wallflower and that’s why I notice things so much. I understand when people don’t, and maybe that’s why I am hated so much. For noticing.
But if there was one thing I could ask of my life, I would ask to re-do. I would march into that disgustingly hot Year 3 classroom on test day Wednesday and finish the test before everyone else.
I wouldn’t trust Ember instead I would make friends with Louis and Freddy and when Louis complimented my writing I would thank him and smile.
I would ignore Aidan and talk to Alfie and hear the funny stories that I was not there to experience but were funny anyway.
I would like my teachers and in Year 4, I would finally have the courage to sit next to Alfie and Louis and his friends in the hall. I’d beg Mum for packed lunches so I would skip the rush to get a good seat.
I’d be happy for Mikaela even if she didn’t deserve Evan. And in Year 5, I would acknowledge Evan a lot more and he would have a crush on me. Then one day, I would tell him and it’s up to him how he would reply. Then he would break up with Mikaela and all the girls will hate me but that will be okay because I won’t see them in high school.
In Year 6, I would leave Mr Hartley alone. I wouldn’t answer that much and still write quirky things that make them want to throw up but I wouldn’t talk too much. Mrs Chaudhuri would be my go-to TA and I would talk to Kiran about things like this.
But now, I’m in Year 8 and my whole childhood feels messed up and awkward. But I’m a wallflower and I can’t change that. Maybe I needed to be more of one not less of one. And if I could go back in time and do one thing to everyone in my class that I remember I would:
Holly– Talk to her. Say sorry for the things that happened in primary school.
Madison – Two words, slap her. She was horrible to me and embarrassed me a lot.
Daisy – Hug her. She was my best friend.
Freddy – Smile and wave at him or wish him luck in school.
Louis – Hug him. Thanking him for trying to be my friend, even if he didn’t mean to.
Carter – Wish him luck at Nightingale Academy.
Rory – Tell him that I’ve moved and to still look out for that haunted house.
Toby – Tell him to stay away from Malina and don’t tell her anything about me.
Stevie – Probably slap him too.
Alfie – Say goodbye to him and wish him luck, and maybe hug him?
Evan – Probably laugh with him about something, and definitely hug him.
The fact is, I will never see any of these people ever again. Ever. And that sort of relief is refreshing but my regret grows deeper.
I’m a wallflower girl, there are certain ups and downs to it. You don’t always have to be perfect and your actions show for that but nevertheless noticing things and thinking deeply about things is never going to be a bad thing.
It’s a gift.
My first poem. Is it good?