THE alarm chimed so violently breaking the still silence of the night and drifting into Rina's ears.
She yawned and tried to stop the noise by covering her ears with the pillow, and it actually helped, the noise from the alarm wasn't as much as it was.
It was a Monday morning, and so she was supposed to be up getting ready for school.
Thirty minutes later, the alarm went dead, and everywhere became as quiet as a graveyard again.
That was when she sluggishly came off bed, and dashed into the bathroom.
*
*
*
Rina looked into the large mirror before her and smiled at the beautiful figure portrayed before her.
She's actually beautiful and none could doubt it, none.
Averaged height, slim figure with a long red hair and sea blue eyes.
Now dressed and looking exquisite in a white long sleeve top, black and white patterned skirt, a black socks with white shoes, she picked up her school bag from the bed and sauntered out of the room.
Getting to the living room, the first thing her eyes rested on was her father's huge portrait hung on the right side of the wall.
She slowly walked up to it.
A tear escaped her eyes as she remembered of his death, two years ago. A lot of tragedy had occured after that...a lot.
Not only had she lost her dad, her elder brother had followed suit. He had vanished months after her father's funeral.
Rina's father was..... she couldn't say rich, but at least he was able to keep the family's head above water, cater for their needs till his painful demise.
He was a little well to do, at least to have admitted his children into one of the big schools in town.
After his mysterious death, things became so hard for the family, everything turned turpsy-turvy and they all dropped down in their level of status, into the category of people the town's inmates calls paupers.
Yep, they became paupers.
Since then, humiliations from different corners followed, they were seen as taboos.
In school, she lived an isolated life. She only had a friend, her best friend, who made life worth living and manageable.
So going with all these humiliations and all, her elder brother, an only brother, vanished into thin air, soon after her dad's funeral.
Why not? He couldn't continue living with it.
He's never been seen or heard off. Whether he's alive or dead, no one knew.
Aside her best friend, Mrs Anika, her school principal had also made life worth living for her as well.
After her dad's death, when all hopes were gone, this God sent woman had called her aside and pledged to provide all her school needs till she graduates from high school.
That's the sole reason she's still in school, Mrs Anika has really made it happen.