ne: The F
lver, its bars clean but cold, li
as the only thing anchoring her to the earth. Her fingers trembled, and so did the
irst day at
me at any sc
in laughter, excitement, and the occasional bark from a teacher. It was a scene most would f
ate like someone stepping
the pavement and darted around her without a glance. A group of seniors huddled by t
t eyes
nd new always
r in her hand-crumpled now from being held too tightly-told her where to go. Room 2A. But that wasn't what she w
uld remember wh
new g
was male, confident,
a crooked grin. He was flanked by two others-one with a lollipop in h
re lost," he said,
replied, her voi
ng in front of the gym with a class schedu
dn't a
aid after a bea
pa
your bu
ffended, he laughed. "Alright then, Mystery Girl. Good
casual salute. The other t
exha
as like being thrown into a pool before learning how to swim-except
di
here because sh
, lockers slammed, and laughter echoed down the halls. She made her way
hispers when
Why's she walking like
meant fewer people behind her. Fewer people to watch her flinch at
ou must be the transfer. Welcome. Wo
hesi
caught in
ply said, "N
s rippled thr
aid smoothly, and turned
ed-back to a time when classrooms felt safe, when her name didn't taste like regret on her
who she was. What she had do
t was t
meone re
of the field, away from the crowd. Her lunch r
ketch in her journal whe
you here," said
a
ked up
said, holding up his ha
hy
ot like t
y smile. "Tha
her. "So what's you
book and stood. "I
ul in his eyes. "Maybe not now. But sto
alked
ith her. Like a thread tugging gent
come here
here to d
cated fate-was never o