Intro. Mai, 15 years old, had been abandoned since childhood. Her father was an alcoholic, and her mother left with another man, leaving her alone when she was only 10. With no place to return to, Mai had to wander the streets, sleeping under shop eaves or in market corners. Her clothes were old and torn, her body often covered in dirt. Every morning, she still tried to go to school, hoping education could one day free her from this dark life. Yet in class, Mai was never welcomed. Her classmates avoided and despised her because of the smell from her shabby clothes; some even laughed and mocked her outright. Teachers pitied her but felt helpless about her situation. During breaks, while the others played together, Mai would sit quietly in a corner, hugging her worn-out notebook, eyes red from holding back tears. She grew up under scornful looks and mocking laughter, her heart full of wounds. But deep inside, Mai still held onto a fragile hope that someday, someone would truly see her worth and