Cherry woke up gasping for breath. She held her neck and stared down at her bed covers. Her room was consumed in a deep darkness. She closed her eyes and started to slow her breathing. After calming down, Cherry looked around her room, searching for the light switch, and quickly turned on the lights. She stared at the boxes and random things from her suitcase lying on the floor. The small clock on her desk read 5:56 a.m. She shook her head and decided to get ready for school early. She showered, put on her uniform with the tie loosely hung around her neck, and shoved her school supplies in the leather backpack that was her father’s apology.
While eating breakfast, Cherry fidgeted with her gold locket, mentally preparing herself for her first day. ‘It will be fine,’ she told herself, ‘I’ll make new friends and have a new place to look around. It will be fine.’
She finished her food and left the dishes in the sink, careful not to make a sound. Now, her favorite part, Cherry put on her headphones and left the cold house for the outside and its comforting warmth. She breathed in the honeysuckle air and sighed with a smile. She made her way towards the bus stop in front of blue-colored apartments. The rising sun was like a blanket over her shoulders, and the summer breeze refreshed her bones after being stuck in the car for so long. The city was still sleeping, but Primrose’s students were wide awake.
Cherry stood at the stop sign, observing the small groups that had formed among the other girls. ‘This is going to be one of those cliquey schools, isn’t it.’ she thought pessimistically. Finally, the bus rolled to a squeaking halt at the curbside and opened its doors for the students. The first day of school has begun.