In Getting What I Deserve, Charlie’s story unfolds without hashtags or group chats. There are no viral posts, no Snap stories gone wrong, no screenshots that come back to haunt him. And that wasn’t an oversight—it was intentional.
Charlie doesn’t use social media. He knows he'll be rejected.
And at first glance, that might seem like a good thing.
He avoids the digital drama, the online bullying, the pressure to perform. He’s off the grid—which, for many parents and educators, sounds like a relief.
But in Charlie’s case, his silence online doesn’t protect him. It actually makes things worse.
🧍 Charlie Is Invisible—And That’s the Problem
Charlie’s emotional abuse doesn’t play out online. It happens in person. Subtle. Relentless. Under the radar.
- The “jokes” that aren’t jokes.
- The weekly humiliation ritual called “Charlie Day.”
- The friends-turned-bystanders who say nothing while he’s pushed further to the margins.
And without social media, Charlie has no voice outside the room. No space to vent. No friends to DM. No digital record of what’s happening to him. He doesn’t even know what others are saying about him online—because he’s not there.
While his peers may see posts and whispers that hint at the cruelty, Charlie lives in the dark. And that dark feels incredibly lonely. Then, just when he thinks he’s safe, it arrives at his front door in the form of his worst enemy... inexplicably offering friendship.
đź’¬ What Silence Leaves Behind
Charlie’s absence from social media mirrors his emotional silence.
He doesn’t speak up at school.
He doesn’t talk to adults.
He doesn’t have a safe space—online or offline—to tell his side of the story.
And that creates a dangerous loop:
He feels isolated, so he withdraws. The more he withdraws, the more isolated he becomes.
In today’s world, not being part of the digital conversation can mean not being part of the conversation at all—especially for middle schoolers.
🧠What This Means for Parents and Educators
This isn’t a call to push every kid online. Social media isn’t the solution—it’s just one of many spaces where kids express themselves, find community, or ask for help.
But if a student isn’t visible online, it’s worth asking:
- Do they have any outlet to be heard?
- Do they know how to ask for help—or who to ask?
- Are there places they could be supported, if someone helped them find the words?
Charlie's silence isn't just about fear. It’s about lacking safe, trusted channels to share his truth.
✏️ Fiction as a Reflection
In writing Charlie’s story, I wanted to show how emotional abuse doesn’t need a screen to be devastating—but also how silence, especially in middle school, can be just as damaging as cruelty.
Charlie’s experience reminds us that “staying out of the drama” isn’t always a sign of health. Sometimes, it’s a sign of hopelessness.
And sometimes, the kids we don’t hear from are the ones we most need to reach.
đź’¬ Want to Talk More?
If you’re an educator, parent, or reader navigating these issues, check out the free discussion guides at RichPerceptions.com. It includes prompts and classroom-friendly questions around silence, peer dynamics, and the ways kids communicate—or don’t.
Let’s keep making space for stories like Charlie’s. And for the kids who feel like no one hears them, online or off.