blanket barely held in any warmth, and her breath rose heavily as she sat up. Around her, the other girls stirred rubbing their cold stiffened hands together be

vernight, Leaving the girls to splash their

e dining hall was scarcely warmer than the dormitory. There was long, wooden tables stretched across the vast room, the wood brought dust as a result of old years of use. She stepped into the dining hall, the overwhelming scent of boiled oats filled her nostrils. The meal, if it could be called that,was a thin porridge with little substance, it's watery consistency doing little to warm the worms i

na barely had time to open her notebook before the lesson started, and before she looked up, She noticed Olivia siting across from her. The girls posture was straight, her hands resting lightly on the desk, her expression calm despite the cooling air. Her hair was neatly braided even though her uniform was just as worn as everyone else's, She carried herself with an air of quiet dignity. Miss Shalom entered the room with a sharp sound of her heels. She stared at the class like someone who was deeply curious, her eyes staring at Olivia for a couple of min

upon her desk with a sharp crack. "You thought?" Miss Shalom mocked her . "If you had spent le

reath,expecting Olivia to cry out. But Olivia remained still, her eyes clear as sunrise and her face unreadable. She didn't move an inch or cry.Anna became angry within her. Why doesn't She fight back? She thought to herself. The lesson continued as if nothing happened, but Anna's thoughts were elsewhere. Oliva's silent endurance haunted her

livia smiled a comforting smile."Strength isn't always about fighting back". Anna looked at her in a surprised look. "So you are just supposed to let people take advantage of you, even when you don't deserve it?" " I forgive them", Olivia said calmly. Anna stared at her. " Forgive the

John, their wicked attitude, their dismissiveness. The anger she carried towards them was a fire that never went out. Could She ever let it go? "I don't think I can do that,". A

ble as before, and the long hours of studying seemed worthless.The dining hall was silent save for the occasional clink of metal spoons against wooden bowls. The atmosphere felt heavy,almost suffocating, weighed down by the unspoken exhaustion of girls who had longed stopped dreaming of

eemed to provoke Miss Shalom. Tha

ks in the wooden walls, seeping into their bones. Anna curled her finger

harp voice sliced through the q

ent the entire night working under the dim light of a single candle, ensuring every answer

at the pages before she sp

he class. Olivia's wor

d herself, the teacher struck her across the ba

ill through Anna's spine. It wa

how some sign of pain. But she didn't. She stood firm, h

tudents looked down, unwilling to meet Olivia's gaz

precision. Still, Olivia did not react. When it was over, she simp

ld she just take it? How could s

't make

at the ceiling. Olivia's words from the previ

nd it. And a part of

t Olivia's strength, what

thing Anna wasn't sur

losely. It wasn't just curiosity anymore. It was something de

er acceptance of mistreatment, was cowardice. But the more she

of Miss Shalom or any of the other teachers who sought to humiliate her. And yet, there was no submission in he

ver met any

r the small fireplace in the common r

she admitted, her voice low.

small, knowing smile. "I don'

e is there to see it?

nsidered this. "Perhaps she does. But her action

culous. You can't just pre

gaze was steady. "I just r

eath. "Then what, you just l

ead. "No. I choose

at her. "F

nwavering. "Because holding on to

she had carried for so long, like a fire that never burned out. She had always be

Olivia didn't

ther she envied or r

do that," she admitte

tly. "Not yet. But you should think

's mind long after the fir

ong time, she wasn't entirely