My life had never been what one would consider an “exciting” life. Although I was nearing the age of seventeen, I wasn’t the typical teenager…which is probably why I was the only girl I knew without a boyfriend. Unlike most kids my age, I had practically lived in my books ever since my twelfth birthday, the year my older sister, Raven, died and my parents separated. Families were supposed to grow closer together when tragedy struck, right? Wrong. I soon discovered that when I needed my family the most, they weren’t there. I had learned from an early age that while people were quick to disappoint, I could always count on my books to see me through. After Raven’s death, my life had seemed to be spinning quickly out of control as well as standing still in time. I had two or three really good friends from school, but when the weekends and summers would come around we would temporarily split paths as they went off to summer camps or other activities I had absolutely no desire to join. It was during these dull times that I would go to the library, bookstore, coffee shop, or even just my living room and crack open a book, eager for shining knights, charming princes, and extraordinary adventures. But as my seventeenth birthday neared, Mom and I had mutually decided that maybe I should try to meet some new people by getting a job.
I pondered this as I sat playing with my food in the school cafeteria. It was my first day at Willow Grove High School and I had arrived nearly thirty minutes early. I had decided to kill some time in the empty lunchroom before stumbling to my first class; AP World Literature. I had hoped that by arriving early I could kill some of the butterflies that fluttered around my stomach, but it only made it worse. Instead, I had found my mind wandering and panicking about friend-making and my new job that I had yet to find. I couldn’t help but feel resentful toward my parents for forcing me into a new world. They felt they had to push me into making friends and being “normal” now that they had “emotionally damaged” me by separating. I was pretty sure this was some idea cooked up by Mom’s psychologist friend, Ruth. Unfortunately, Dad had actually listened to Ruth for once.
I nearly jumped from my seat as the bell rang for first period. Well, here goes nothing, I thought as I swung my backpack over my shoulder and nervously staggered into the crowd that was now pouring into the building. I glanced down at the map that the principal’s secretary had handed me when I’d checked in.
“Need help?”
I whirled around and found myself face-to-face with a young, kind-faced girl. “Oh, I, uh, I’m just looking for Ms. Steinburg’s class.” The girl smiled, her short blonde curls framing her oval face. “That’s on the way to my class, I can show you the way.” She began down the hall, with me following close behind. “I’m Elyssa, by the way.”
“Oh,” I quickly stuffed my map into my bag. “I’m Swan.”
travel bible
1 day ago
