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Kiara's POV
*"Like dawn, you crept slowly into my life—
ever gentle, ever warm.
Like rain drops, you fell into my heart
until you became the ocean surrounding me.
I love you, Hazel…"*
I was halfway through whispering the words aloud when—
"Kiara!!" My mother's voice tore through the house. I groaned, snapped my book shut, and tossed it onto the bed.
"Kiara!" she called again, sharper this time.
"I'm coming!" I yelled back, dragging myself toward the door.
When I reached the sitting room, she was already standing by the door with her bag slung over one shoulder. "We're leaving now. I hope you're ready."
I shifted my weight uneasily. "Do I really have to change schools?" The words slipped out under my breath, but she caught them anyway.
"Yes, you do. You can't keep traveling miles every morning when there are perfectly good schools around."
"It's not even that far," I muttered, crossing my arms.
"You're changing schools, Kiara. That's final." Her tone slammed the door shut on any argument.
I swallowed my frustration and stepped outside. My dad and siblings were already packed into the car, chatting like it was just another ordinary day. For me, it wasn't. I slid into the back seat, staring at the floor mats, and let out a long sigh.
Mom joined us a minute later, and Dad started the engine. The car lurched forward, carrying me farther away from everything familiar.
That was when the dread hit me. It wasn't loud or sudden—it crept in slowly, curling around my chest, heavy and cold. What if I don't like it there? What if no one talks to me? What if I end up invisible… forgotten?
I pressed my forehead against the cool glass window, watching the blur of houses and trees pass by. The streets I knew by heart were fading behind me, swallowed by distance. My stomach tightened.
The car turned sharply. Ahead, iron gates stood tall and unfamiliar, swinging open like the mouth of something waiting to swallow me whole.
My new school.
And just like that, every fear I'd tried to bury rose up at once.
The car rolled to a stop, and my heart rolled with it-straight into my stomach.
"Here we are", my father announced and I felt my stomach churn in fear.
"Kiara". My mother's voice was gentle but firm. "Time to go". I stepped out of the car with my mother and she led me straight to the principals office.
The principal smiled at the sight of us and greeted my mother warmly. "You will love it here". He said and I could only give a gentle smile in response.
He led us to a seat in his office and he and my mum began discussing about the school and other things which I couldn't care less about as I was still drowning in a sea of fear and doubt.
I was looking around the principal's office and admiring a painting on the wall when suddenly, a boy walked in and it felt as if time suddenly stopped in its track. I could feel my heart racing suddenly against my rib cage. 'What is this feeling ', I thought to myself. Our eyes seemed to meet for a second and I quickly looked down in embarrassment.
"Sir, its time for gym class and we need the balls", he said, snapping me out of my trance.
"Ok". The principal said as he stood up and picked up the balls from what seemed like a closet and handed it over to him, he Hurriedly took the ball and left the principal's office.
"Miss Kiara". He said staring at me, "will you like me to show you around". "Yes", I said shortly and the principal proceeded to touring me and my mum around the school.
As he toured us around the hallways, I saw other students moving in pairs or group, laughing and orbiting around each other with a ease I couldn't imitate. My chest tightened. We made a stop at the school's field and there I saw him again, this time he was playing football and he seemed to glow, everyone else around the field seemed to have disappeared and I could only see him. 'What's wrong with me'. I mentally face palmed my self. 'Who is this boy, and what is he doing to me'. I thought to myself.
"We have come to the end of the tour", the principal said and my mother looked around in satisfaction, "she will start tomorrow ", my mother said and the principal nodded in satisfaction.
As we walked out of the school, I kept glancing back. 'Will I really fit in here?'. I asked my self and the question loomed over me like a shadow.