It was the beginning of June. March sat in English, the last period of the day. The air conditioning was not on nearly high enough and there was a sheen of sweat on her back.
It was nearly time for summer break, and it showed on the student's faces. The summer heat made them lazy and their attentions were even more displaced than usual.
The English teacher was a thin woman with light hair that was pulled but tighter than necessary. Perhaps she would also rather be somewhere at this moment, rather than being inside a humid classroom, teaching a course to a classroom of students with glazed over eyes. The curriculum was much more relaxed approaching summer, and today, she simply chose a short poem to discuss with the class.
Whether she had deliberately chosen the poem for the mutual thoughts in their mind, ironically the work's name was "Liberte"— Liberty.
The English teacher handed a stack of paper to the student sitting at the corner by the door. She allowed some time for the students to pass out the papers amongst themselves.
"It was written by Paul Eluard, who was known as the 'Poet of Freedom'…" She began by briefly introducing the work.
March listened, albeit without much enthusiasm. Occasionally, she glanced at her phone under her desk to check on the time.
Around five minutes before dismissal, March would always stealthily pack her things away first. This way, it ensured that she would be the first one out the door the moment the bell rang. Then, if she walked fast enough, she could rush through the hallway and go through the exit before it gets too crowded.
This summer was unlike the previous year's summer for March. This year, for her, represented opportunity. It was the light at the end of a dark tunnel that had previously seemed to stretch on forever for her.
Since her freshman year, she had never slipped up. She made sure to maintain her grades and finally, not long ago, she received an acceptance notice to the first choice of her college. March was ecstatic.
March had a few criteria when choosing the right school. She wanted it to be a decent school, or course, but it wasn't like she was aiming for a crème of the crop, elite sort of education. Just a reputable institution with a sensible major that was easily employable after graduation.
The financial aid March applied for would cover all the tuition. March had also been working part-time to save for her living expenses. After all, the most important criteria, one that the college must fulfill no matter what, even at the cost of all other conditions, was that it had to be far, far away from home.
March felt a rush of thrill in her stomach when she thought about it. Unable to help herself, she stimulated what it would be like to live on her own.
First, she would get her own apartment, because living off-campus would be cheaper and kinder on her admittedly, very lean bank account. It would probably be a small place, but it would be hers, and cozy, and she could decorate it as she pleased.
In anticipation of having her own place, March had been scrolling through the internet for inspirations, and she had a bunch of saved photos. She imagined herself finding great deals on secondhand markets online, or perhaps she would go thrifting to discover the perfect furnitures that were maybe hiding away in dusty and overlooked corners.
She would get a rug, no two rugs. One for putting by the couch and another for putting by the bed, so she wouldn't touch the cold floor when she got off it in the morning. Then maybe a small coffee table to put by the couch. And maybe some matching dishwares? March sighed internally. She was getting way too ahead of herself.
One thing sure thought, was that she was going to fill—well to a moderate extent—her place with all kinds of plants. The couple of times she tried raising plants at home, they never lived for long, but she knew, if they just had a place where they could be left to be, they would not only grow, but thrive.
"…I write your name."
Upon wearing the person in front of her speak, March was brought back to reality. It turns out the teacher was the class take turn doing a live reading.
The English teacher nodded. "Very good." She looked at March, "Please continue reading from the next part."
March quickly scanned the paper, reading what was on it for the first time. She zoned in on the part the person before had been reading and found her part after it. When she read it, she paused for a moment, a bit surprised by the words.
"March?" The English teacher, lifting her head up from her paper, looked in her direction again.
"Uh, yes." March licked her lips, then read from the paper.
"And by the power of a word,
I start my life again,
I was born to know you,
To name you,
Liberty."
…
...
Approaching the end of class, March shoved that handout and her pencil case into her book bag. When the bell rang, the English teacher looked up from what she was doing. "Well class, that's all the time we have for today. Enjoy the rest of your day."
March grabbed the her book bag and swung it over her shoulders. She nonchalantly walked towards the door, as if she hadn't been planning the escape the entire time. Students were already walking out of their classrooms and the hallway was filling up quick. March hurried to the exit and managed to get out of the doors before the corridors became impossible to maneuver through.
The brute of the heat beat down even hard on her once she was outside. It may be early in June, but the weather was already obnoxiously hot. March shielded her eyes with her hand and glanced at the bus stop, hoping to see that there would be a bus approaching.
Unfortunately, the bus stop was empty. March trudge over. At least she would be the first in line. Sycamores were planted around the block and there happened to be a large one right next to the bus stop. March walked underneath the shade.
March unlocked her phone and checked when the bus would be arriving. It was a fifteen minute wait. Not horrible. She tried to convince herself. But underneath the heatwaves, everything felt longer.
She took out a bottle of water from her book bag, unscrewed the cap, and drank a mouthful. When she had enough, she put the cap back on, and placed the bottle back inside her bag.
She opened an app and scrolled through her phone. A couple minuted crawled by. She tugged irritably at the collar of her shirt.
By now, dismissal was in full motion. Students flooded out of the school gate and poured into the streets. Soon enough, a crooked line formed at the bus stop.
At this time, a girl walked out of the school gate as well, leisurely following the flow of the crowd. She had black hair cut to the length of her neck. She held a reusable water bottle in one band and a black violin case with the other. She was headed towards the direction of the curb, and when she saw March, she smiled and waved.
"Hi, March!" The girl, Amelia, walked over, joining her under the shade.
"Hi, Amelia. How have you been?" March met Amelia through a volunteering event where they cleaned the park together. Afterward, because they had no mutual classes together, they only exchanged greetings when occasionally passed by each other in the hallway.
"I've been good. You know, the same old. I'm just so glad it's finally going to be summer vacation soon." Amelia fanned herself with the hand holding the water bottle. "Wow, it's really hot today."
March looked at Amelia, who looked like she was really feeling the heat. Both her cheeks were already starting to look a little flushed.
The both of them chatted for a bit about random tidbits that recently happened to them. Eventually, the subject of where they were going for college was mentioned.
When Amelia heard the name of where March was planning to attend, she didn't recognize it, so she pulled out her phone and searched it up. When she saw where it was on the map, she was slightly shocked. "Wow, you're going away for college. That's so amazing."
It turns out Amelia was going to a college that was right in the city. She would be able to commute home every day and there was no need to dorm. Amelia looked at March with some admiration, "I also have a few other friends who are leaving for college. I can't imagine doing that, I just don't think I'm ready to live by myself yet…Maybe after I graduate."
March smiled, "No, I think it's great. Not to mention, it'd be really convenient."
Amelia nodded, "It really is."
After chatting for a bit more, a car rolled by and honked. Amelia looked up. "That's my Dad. Gotta go." She looked at March offered, "Do you want a ride home?"
March shook her head, "No, it's all right. Thanks though."
"You sure?" Amelia asked again. After being refused again, she said, "All right, see you around then." Turning around, she walked away.
March watched as Amelia opened the door of the car and climbed in. After the door closed, the car drove away.
March looked on a bit enviously. Her shirt was plastered against her back. She bet it was soaked, especially with the book bag covering it, making it extra warm.
Sighing, she thought, I should really learn to drive soon.