Chapter 6: The First Step
The end of summer arrived with a crisp, cool autumn breeze.
It was finally time for Lily to start the seventh grade at her brand-new school.
She stood in front of the small bathroom mirror and adjusted her backpack straps.
Her stomach tied itself into nervous, uncomfortable knots.
In her old life, school had always been a lonely and terrifying place.
Eleanor had constantly monitored her grades and strictly controlled her friendships.
Sarah walked into the hallway and leaned against the wooden doorframe.
She held a brown paper lunch bag with a bright yellow smiley face drawn on the front.
"Are you feeling nervous?" Sarah asked softly.
"A little bit," Lily admitted truthfully while looking down at her shoes.
"It is perfectly normal to feel scared on your first day," Sarah reassured her.
"But remember that nobody here knows anything about our past."
Lily took a deep, steadying breath and nodded her head.
They walked together down the street toward Oak Creek Middle School.
The large brick building buzzed loudly with the chaotic energy of hundreds of students.
Sarah kissed Lily softly on the forehead before she walked up the front steps.
"Have a wonderful day, my brave girl," Sarah encouraged her.
Lily walked through the heavy double doors and easily found her first classroom.
Mr. Harrison, her new homeroom teacher, possessed a kind smile and messy brown hair.
He did not look at her with pity or any hidden agendas.
"You must be Lily," Mr. Harrison greeted her warmly as she entered the room.
"Welcome to our class."
He pointed toward an empty wooden desk near the large sunny window.
A girl wearing bright pink glasses sat in the desk right next to hers.
The girl leaned over quickly and offered a small, friendly wave.
"I absolutely love your yellow sweater," the girl whispered with genuine kindness.
"Thank you," Lily whispered back, feeling a real smile spread across her face.
She sat down and carefully placed her notebooks on the wooden desk.
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For the very first time in her memory, she felt entirely normal.
She was just a regular girl starting a brand-new school year.
