At lunch, sixteen-year-old Vanna sat beneath the tree near her school's valley steps. Her classmates rushed past her, laughing as they made their way to the market. Vanna stayed behind, staring at her worn school uniform and secondhand shoes. Her left hand stayed hidden under her sleeve, covering scratches left behind by her father's addiction.

Behind her, voices rang out. One girl laughed, pointing, 'You're such a pure village girl. So selfish, just sitting there alone like you're better than us.'

Vanna didn't respond. She lowered her eyes and held her silence—not because she agreed, but because she had never been sure how to speak up for herself.

That afternoon, in Buddhism class, the teacher asked, 'What is patience?' The room fell silent. And then—slowly—Vanna raised her hand.

She spoke quietly, 'Patience… is like a thousand small flowers in a field waiting for the rain. Without them, the clouds have no reason to fall.'

The teacher smiled. 'Vanna, your mind is like a smart flower gardener. Come explain more.'

During Volunteer Week, Vanna signed up to help in the city garden. There, she met Nary, the class's best student. When Nary noticed a tear on Vanna's shirt and the old scars on her arm, she leaned in and whispered, 'I know how to sew. I'll help you fix it.'

'Yes,' Vanna said shyly. 'But please don't tell anyone. I'm embarrassed.'

Nary held her hand and said gently, 'This scar is like a tree root leaving its old trunk to grow new leaves. You're stronger than you think.'

Three months later at the school art fair, Vanna presented her painting called *Tree Roots on Rocks*. Her classmates—once distant—now gathered around, asking for drawing tips.

Nary displayed clothing she had crafted from discarded fabric. The two girls smiled at each other—once strangers, now friends joined by courage and care.

That day, Vanna's father appeared. He had just returned from a rehab center. Tears filled his eyes as he looked at her painting and whispered, 'You… are the most beautiful flower I've ever planted.'

The sun shone brightly as Vanna and Nary planted a new sapling together in the school garden. In that moment, Vanna felt something inside take root. She no longer saw herself as a weed—but as a flower, blooming.