t, but her parents have always been successful, till today. She stepped through her front door. A cold settled deep into her bones. The wind was heavy, thick with a sile

ally strong, emerged as a delicate

und ran away before ripping her, "Take a shower

und the kitchen with unnatural movements. Her face was a mask of stress, and her eyes were swollen

The air was thick with unspecified stress. Her father, Mr. James, breat

voice was bad, "I lost my j

world bowed down. The wind released her lungs.

ey for your academics," they con

Dad," she looked straight at her Daddy,

ant you to be happy. My love. I wanted to see you smiling always." While he tried begging with his eyes. "But I promise you, Aurora,

ishment to her, but she had no choice. "A fierce resolut

ou, daddy," she swore

articipate. Aurora wakes up late, pressing the weight of their new realit

h day felt like an inverted count. The last bell rang.

e said, his voice strong. "Please consider me. Things will get better. I sold all my properties, darling. Everything. To finance

sold everything for her future. Love and gratitude washed over her, r

t time in weeks, I promise Mom and Dad, I will

the sun. It was not an ivy castle of Paul Saint. It was a tumbling, tumbling place, full of voic

les that she had never thought of. Boys in their pants dangling down to show off their boxers. Others wear sparkling rings

her hand. Aurora and her mother wal

uced her as: "Mrs

ligent eyes, rose. She boomed out a welcome to Riverstone

Aurora calmly, gi

d went away. Aurora looked on as she went. A pang of loneliness had come t

unced upon with laughter, shouts, and music. The

the students arose. Good

new classmate, she said, indicating Auror

urora smiled, shyly and yet honestly, and with a little feeling of relief. Thank thee all, sh

ee girls

girl with bright

fered another,

e third added, dark ha

ducing yourselves," she said, grateful. The

ive you a tou

ase!" Aur

grinned. "Wait till you see this."

but far from dusty. Microscopes gleamed. Charts adorned the walls. A well

u so wowed?

would look attractive," she admitted. "My former school is better

r head. "Which school did yo

igh School,"

hool? They shrieked. It is one of the costly schools!

. This was an insulting question. My Daddy... he no longer had

, how sorry we are, said Precious, and gave Auro

ll right," replied A

ngly." There is a cafeteria. Bu

s very large and noisy. It was a crowd, and the wind was fille

like to ask a few quest

ut anything! " Prec

n I found some guys wearing earrings on my first day, and some were not appr

cious, Anna, and Victoria smiled. Who said the sc

"Well, why then do they still go

are beyond 18. Others are not only... older. They simply

upon Aurora. Protect herself? From what? From whom? T

shrieked. Oh, we must get back

Learners rushed to the doors. Aurora soon went over to Anna, Precious, and Victoria, hoping t

verage height, with dark and untidy hair, an intolerable glare, and on his ear was one silver ring, catchingly bright. He wore his

o the bone, and she felt a shudder run up her spine. Her mind was dragged with a horrible feeling that something wa

s waved to her. T

the girls when a peculiar feeling fell upon her arm. A st

t remark, but clutched her still more, drawing her a little nearer. The school sounds

s flicked t

free, but the chair was strong. A chill came o

are new, he murmured in a deep, gruff tone. And y

ly as he had taken it and disappeared into the press, leavi

ith anxiety, and behind that anxiety, there was very little hope

This was just superb! she gushed. She explained to them how she had

love, she said. You will do great things there, I am sure

smile. "You will adapt, honey

could still hear Precious' words that it was as a fe

This new school, this new life, was much more dan