rs on her desk. Eliana sat quietly on the edge of the bed, clutching the worn poetry book she had hidden beneath her threadb

liana," she whispered urgently, "I found something. A scholarship opportunit

her mind like seeds ready to bloom. "But... I

e more than they could ever

a "But I don't know... I mi

hink I would put you through this if I don't

ees to go through w

nd textbooks Amira had brought from her own school supplies. She was no stranger to hard work,

with a stub of a pencil, every word a promise t

ures, quick to sniff out anything that could threaten their careful

y'll ruin you. They do

ned. "Then I'll have t

ing heavy but her spirit relentless. She memorized equations, practiced essays, and learned

, she overheard Vanessa speaking to one of her fri

a burden. Mother's only keep

lowing the sting. They didn't s

slipped into Eliana's room with a small pur

e said shyly, handi

k, the cool metal a talisman against fear a

d hugged her one last

st clothes, a mixture of nerves and hope swirling inside her like a storm.

the familiar skyline shrink into the distance. For the first time in years, the future

expensive uniforms shuffled nervously. Eliana felt like a

embered her father's words - strength, pride, res

s heart leapt. She had earned the scholarsh

pt the news a secret, knowi

ally telling Amira that she had passed the exams, "You

gh, the whispered wings of

ime, she believ