Ashes and Crowns

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