Abigail - Love, Family and Friendship

e and t

ke my life something meaningful, I suppose. Another year of pretending I have it all together when inside, I feel like a mess. Turning 18 should feel like a miles

flicker-first to my face, then to my body, then to my eyes, searching for something deeper. But they never find it. I

ot everything figured out, or so it seems. It's like she was born with the perfect balance of intelligence and grace. Me? I'm the one who shows up late to class, scribbling down notes and ho

Everyone says it's the night you'll remember forever, but I can't help but wonder: what if no one remember

the future. Maybe it's because I know that nothing will ever truly change, not really. But I have to try, don't I? 18 isn't just a

he pieces. Maybe this year, I'll finally

roo

the window framed Jane like an angelic figure, her fingers dancing over the keys of her piano. Abigail often envied the way Jane's brilliance shone so effortless

r fingers pausing on the ivory keys. She didn'

ady knew. She twirled her pen between her fi

ies. What's this one about? Existential dread? The meaning of life?" Jane turned,

not like you don't pour your soul into every note you

uché. Still, one of these days, you've got to let me read

to her chest. "Not happening. My thoug

sly. "Oh, I'll get them

eighbour and the unofficial gossip queen of the school, poked her head in. Her

er before launching into her story. "Liam Daniels got caught sneaking into the art studio aft

k with Abigail. "Wait, Miss Wilson, the chemistry teache

uncovered the scandal. "He said it was for a 'class project,' b

a soft thud. "And this is why I stick to

Like you two don't have secrets worth spilling. Come on, what's new in

. Someone actually wrote me a poem last week and signed it 'Yo

ur secret admirer is musi

me, her laugh bouncing around the room

r gossip radar already scanning for more juicy titbits. "Gotta go, ladies. Can

. "Come on, Abby, let's not miss chemistry again.

For all the chaos, there was something comforting about the rhythm of their little

in c

ions-American, French, and others Abigail couldn't name if her life depended on it. The faint squeak of a chair and the rhythmic tapp

g a branch, carefree and oblivious to the classroom's low-grade chaos. Abigail envied it. Inside, the air fel

h flipped as her head snapped up. The room turned to her-a sea of curio

led for something, anything, that sound

r rippled through the room, soft but enough to make her cheeks b

ggested amusement. "A start, I suppose," he said with a hint of sarcasm, turni

led something on a scrap of paper. Moments later, the note landed on Abigail's desk, perfectly aimed. She unfolded it under her tex

glanced back at Jane, who gave her a quick wink before returning to

iam Daniels and some "big prom surprise" he was planning. Snippets of her words floated around-secret project, Miss Wilson, t

sing a beat, "if you're planning a revoluti

's earlier tension. Even Abigail couldn't help but smile. Moments like th

ly as though the words might escape if he didn't trap them fast enough. His lips moved faintly, forming silent words. Abigail wondered

ts gathered their things in a hurry. Abigail stayed behind, taking her time as she tuc

r bag over one shoulder. "Ready for c

rugged. "N

e your thing, but that glare you gave Carte

she slung her bag over her shoulder. "I'll keep tha

ir. Beside her, Jane kept talking about the latest prom gossi

te Rej

ks. The hallway felt alive with the usual end-of-day commotion-laughter, hurrie

Abig

man jacket slung over one shoulder. Tyler had that easy charm that made him the centre o

utiously, her hand linge

's coming up," he began, his tone casual but deliberate. "I was thinking... you and

radiating. But as she held his gaze, she saw the flicker of something else beneath the

e calm but firm. "That's sweet of y

"Wait, what? Why?" he asked, straightening.

," she said, her tone sharp but not unkind. "You're not asking me because you like me. You're as

ught off guard. "

yes steady on his. "Find someone

ent, he looked unsure, his practiced charm

ver her shoulder. The hallway seemed quieter no

a comeback that never came. A few students nearby had overheard, their eyes darting

ted being the centre of attention for the wrong reasons. Still, she didn't regret it. Tyler wasn't the

e spotted Jane leaning against a wall, ar

ed, her voice tinge

ned. "Just wondering how it feels to crush th

ut couldn't suppress a sm

step beside her. "But his ego? That's g

each step. Abigail felt a strange mix of relief and pri

Room Co

cholic tune, letting the notes flow effortlessly into the quiet of their small dorm room. The faint hum of chatter a

mock seriousness as she stretched out

lowering the violin. "Eth

irmed, rolling onto her stomach and propping her chin on her hands. "I'm tellin

r violin carefully back in its case.

"we have chemistry. Not the boring kind we suffer through in

ndary 'look.' How could I forget?" She shook her head, her tone tea

tos. Picture it: me in emerald green-my colour-and Ethan in a perfectly tai

back, crossing her arms. "I just hope your

an is nothing like Tyler! Tyler's all flash and no substance. Eth

id nothing, her eyes s

"Ethan's different. And when he finally as

open to a blank page. "I'll make sure to reco

in fate. And fate," she added with a pointed look, "has been awfully generous to some pe

ed jotting something down in her journal. "

emeanor softening. "You know, you could go alone an

the page. "Maybe. Or maybe I'll skip the

hrowing a pillow in Abigail's

ed, the sound filling the room and breaking

"Only because I need someone to humble me

and setting it aside. "Just remember: if he writes you

, throwing another pil

ne closed her eyes, her smile lingering as she listened. For a moment, all was right in their

cret A

rapped around her like a comforting embrace as she stepped inside, closing the door gently

d the lid, her movements halted. A single rose lay atop her sheet music, its deep red petals soft and delicate against the

for the note. Unfolding it, her e

not in the colour of your petals but in the strength of your roots. And your eyes-

ery Lover were scrawled in a

alf-expecting the poet to emerge from the shadows, but the room remained still. The piano stood silent, the music st

ling in his notebook? Or was it someone else-someone she hadn't even noticed? A part of her wanted to dismiss

l smile tugged at the corners of her lips. The words in the poem spoke to something deeper, something she rarely al

picked up her violin and raised it to her chin, letting the bow rest lightly on the strings. But instead of launching into the

but they grew richer, more confident, echoing her swirling emotions. The

in her that even she struggled to see in herself. And for the first time in a long while

the moment lingering. She didn't know who her mystery admirer was, but their

the empty practice room before stepping out into the hallway. Somewhere out there was the person