Grace is 15 years old and used to suffer from nightmares about fire when she was a child, but never did she expect them to come true.
Grace's Story
It had been the best day of the year so far! The weather was gorgeous and everyone was talking about the upcoming Prom; what they were wearing, who they were going with and what they were going to shout at the band who were playing!
Add to that the fact that I was in the middle of planning my birthday party which was only 10 days away, and you can see why we were all in such good spirits.
School ended as usual and I boarded the train with everyone else I only had to go one stop and I'd done the journey many times before.
The horror
I'd been on the train for about a minute when I heard this click and suddenly it started getting very hot behind me. The air was getting thick and I didn't know what was happening.
Then my friend screamed, "You're on fire!"
I can't describe what I felt as she yelled at me. It was as if all my childhood nightmares about fire had come true.
I screamed as loud as I could and cried for help. My friend took her blazer off and threw it over my head and started hitting me, trying to bat the flames out. As she did so, the train pulled into the station and I stumbled on the platform, sobbing and screaming hysterically.
Images posed by models. Some names have been changed.
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The aftermath
The rest is a blur. I got taken to hospital for treament to my neck and scalp. All that went through my mind was how did this happen?
“I couldn't believe it when I found out it was someone from my own year group!”
When I was feeling better and had talked to my friends, I realised the horrible truth that someone had done it deliberately. How could someone be so awful?
I decided to press charges as I was told the police had caught the boy who did it. I couldn't believe it when I found out it was someone from my own year group!
Prom night came around and I didn't want to go as I didn't feel ready to face everyone after everything I'd been through. My best friend said she'd be there to support me, so I eventually decided to go.
I was really glad I went, as we spent the whole night having a laugh and dancing like loons. That is, until I looked up and saw that the boy who'd hurt me was there. We didn't speak and nothing happened, but it really shook me up and ruined my night.
My birthday arrived the day after my story hit the press. I was too scared to even blow out candles on my cake.
Justice
Weeks passed and soon I was back at school and even back on trains, but none of this changed the fact that the date of court was approaching fast.
I was invited along, to see my attacker sentenced. He got a referral order and a fine (which was awarded to me). He also got a restraining order, which meant he wasn't allowed to come near me again.
15 months on and I'm a new person. Yes, of course I'm still terrified of fire and busy trains, but my friends and boyfriend are really here for me; with them by my side anything is possible.
Help and support:
Are you being bullied?
Pictures posed by models.
Your comments
Charlie , 15
Well done for coming up on top of this. Also it shows how brave you are that you actually went to the prom after all you clearly have great friends. All the best for the future x
Amy, 14
That is horrid horrid horrid. It sickens me that people would actually do that! I'm pleased he got sentenced, but i reckon he should've gone to prison, as that could've killed you. If a boy in my year did that i don't think anyone would talk to him + he would lose all his friednds and probably be expelled!You coped really well...i couldn;t have coped nearly as well as you.Gd luck for the futurex
aimee, 14
oh my god, thats terrible, i hope you are ok now. x
lauren, 17
omg.wow how cud sum1 do that to you. ? why wud they do that? at least people are supporting you :)
Hannah, 13
OMG!!!!! that must have been a horrific experience for you and you are an amazing perszon for being able to overcome it. Good for you!
Catherine, 13
That's really sad, but luckily you survived! I'm glad you had fun in your prom night. Surely this boy needs help!
Chloe, 15
I've been going on trains loads lately with it bein ghe Summer holidays but never have I witnessed something like that happen! it's just so awful!!! Well done and carrying on and being so brave! x
phoebe, 13
o my dayz! i hope u gt wat u wanted from the sentance + dat uv made a full recovery. Best wishes!
