The attic smelled like sand rain with cub webs every where.Gran said no one's been here in ages,Maya said,still venturing deeper in the small cramped up place,"oops"! she halted "oh my....what do we have here?"she said brushing dust off the box that was lying sideways on the wooden floor,Inside was a green ,dairy tied with a faded ribbon.She quickly, rather carelessly brushed dust of the book and untied the ribbon "just one line"she muttered as she opened the dairy and flipped to the first page
"Dear dairy,
Uhm I guess we're now friends huh,my name is Lila buh I don't like it ya know don't ask me why.....okay since you're going to keep all my secrets you might as well....."
Maya stood there face filled with curiosity and eagerness to read more,after some contemplations,she dashed downstairs, dairy in one hand and into the garden where her Grandmother was sitting taking in the afternoon breeze, her face was peaceful as she sat down, eyes shutted and humming a rune she had long forgotten. As she heard the sound of the door opening, she slowly opened her eyes, and emerging from the door was a beautiful girl of 16 whose chocolate skin shone more brightly as the sun rays accentuated her skin....her curly hair dangled as she rushed towards her.Cluthed in her hand was a book Lila wished never existed but couldn't get rid of "Grandma" she called out ."Yes love...?"Lila replied ,"look at what I found"she said bringing out the dairy ."I found it while in the attic...and I thought I would rather here it from you than invade your privacy ".After the words left her mouth,Lila didn't say a word ,with a warm smile platered on her face.The silence stretched and only the sounds of rustling trees could be heard ,her eyes travelled between her granddaughter's face and the book and chuckled as she thought "So much for not invading your privacy" "oh my" she finally said.."why don't you set up the up the table darling...we'll talk about it over tea.
Maya took a few steps forward placing the dairy beside her grandmother and back to the house into the kitchen,She took out two porcelain cups from the shelf and placed them on the tray along with the teapot,she took out two porcelain cups from the shelf and placed the on the tray along with the teapot,she pulled out the jar containing the black tea leaves and the other with the fresh jasmine blossoms in it and placed the both on the tray. she took the tray out and placed it on the table at garden carefully taking out the items and placing them individually on the table,After setting the table and preparing the tea for them both,she called out to her grandmother who was now engrossed in tending to her plants.Lila dropped her gloves on the bench and walked towards her granddaughter.sge pulled out a chair herself as she had stopped Maya's attempt to do so for her .After sitting down she stared at the smmoth and white cup,it's porcelain surface catching the light with a faint shine.A curved handle rested neatly at its side ,shaped to fit two fingers.steam curled gently from the dark liquid within, fogging the rim.Faint faint hairline cracks traced across it's glaze,giving it the quiet dignity of something used and loved for many years.Maya kept on stealing glances at her grandmother who,for some reason she thought,is taking and incredible amount of time in taking her first sip."this is my third sip and for some reason she is still on her first sip....is she even sipping on the first place...?!" "Err grandma ...?can you start now..?" Maya asked with a smile,"oh my" Lila exclaimed "sorry love I was lost in thought "yeah right" Maya thought rolling her eyes,"well we can start now"she said with a smile . "Alright then where do I even start....this dairy was given to me by my elder sister after I.....
40years ago
Lila
"Wow is it mine?"she said with a big smile enough to divide her face into two."Yes it's yours".Mavis her sister replied. "Why are you so happy? You don't even know what's inside yet....hehe" Mavis laughed,with curiosity plastered on her face,Lila hurriedly opens the medium sized square box that was resting on her lap, in it she found the thing she've been saving up for " OH MY GOD!! A DAIRY?!" She shrieked "how did you..is it really mine?" She asked while stammering "thank you so much "."Oh don't mention it ,I know you like writing so I got you a dairy it's no big of a deal actually " "I'm happy she likes it" she thought with a proud goofy smiles on her face . "Aww thank you!" "Thank you" she said her voice trailing off as she dashed to her room .and stood for a whole minute to let it all sank....in after contemplating whether she should write in the dairy before school or after school after pondering for a while she decided to make her first dairy entry
"Dear dairy,
Uhm I guess we're now friends huh,my name is Lila buh I don't like it ya know don't ask me why...okay since you're going to keep all my secrets you might as well...nvm anyways tomorrow is my first day at school and I'm excited and scared but mostly excited I mean it's high school babyyyyyyy!!!! And the break was so fucking long omg I can cuss without anyone knowing now hehe anyways I get to go to school now . it's past eight thirty and I need to sleep because I've got school tomorrow byeeeee kantabloooshylabayaaa "
Thought-out the entire entry she kept changing her facial expression smiling here and there.she closed the dairy and hid it amongst her books,she turned of the lights and laid on her bed ,eyes to the ceiling,for thirty minutes she laid there daydreaming,creating fake scenarios in her head assuming how her first day will turn out. Eventually she drifted of to sleep.
The alarm filled the room but was immediately turned off she quickly took her bath and brushed her teeth. After wearing her undergarments,she sat at the edge of her bed smoothing the pleats on her neatly pressed dress for the twentieth time,her hands trembling from excitement and not because the fabric needed fixing."Lila l,are you ready?" Her mother's voice echoed from down the hallway,warm.but rushed."yes mom!" She yelled back ,though her voice cracked with nerves,her eyes were brimming with excitement.she reached for her new backpack she had received from her father,and held it as if when left for a split second the whole world will come to it's end.
She glanced at her room one last time and left,she trotted down the hallway,which was basking in the sun's golden rays.She called out to her mother upon arriving at her parents bedroom."Mom?"she called"Lila darling I'll be out in a minute" Her mom's voice came out from the room. After sometime she came out, clutched in her hand was some notes, she handed them to her "Here for today, don't misuse it okay darling" , Julia said to her daughter ,who was looking adorable in her uniform, she had a proud smile on her face as she watched her figure from head to toe, she held her shoulder as she whispered with a smile "be a good girl for me ok love?" "Okay mama!" Lila said with a big smile.she hugged her mother and headed towards the door. Her dad was already outside making a phone call, she waved at him with a big smile on her face..her dad kept his phone at arms length and said "Have a nice day angel" "okay!"Lila said
The morning sky was some how pale when Lila boarded the rickety bus that would take her to lakelin high, A town away from home.dust from the dusty road filled the car and the chatter of some passengers also filled the air .Lila clutched her bag tightly to her chest looking through the window and taking in the scenery as the houses, shops and trees roll by. For some students,the school gates was just a short walk away. For Lila it was nearly an hour's journey. The bus rattled over potholes before pulling into the bus stop which was twenty minutes away from her school. Stepping out ,she adjustedher backpack and started walking to school. After walking for what felt like eternity to her, the schools gate came to view, she joined the river of students flowing through the gates and into the school. She felt smaller than she expected, swallowed by the voices and footsteps of hundreds of strangers. It felt as though the school seemed to favor her,her classroom was barely three minutes away from the gate.Upon entering the classroom,she had no choice but to take the middle seat ,as she sat down, she felt the gazes but choose to ignore them . She read a book while others exchanged names . After some hours of loneliness, The siren finally announced it was break, The classroom emptied like water spilling from a cracked pot as people walked in groups. Lila hesitated, hands in her pocket before stepping outside. In the courtyard,she spotted a familiar and annoying face, Korry. Relief washed over her, as she embraced the thought of not being alone in this soon to be prison. "Lila" Korry called, coming over "didn't know you came today too,how is life" He asked.They chatted easily for a few minutes, It felt good not to be invisible.And then she heard it, A voice soft and musical,carried by the afternoon air. She stared and she was stunned .
A girl stood a few steps away, talking to someone, her glasses catching the sunlight, her caramel-brown skin glowed as if it held its own warmth, hair combed neatly. The sun seemed to pause just to rest on her face, she was beautiful—as still and breathtaking as a still river reflecting the setting sun. Lilafelt her stomach twist, she lifted a hand self —conciously to her cheeks, suddenly aware of her plain face ,her unremarkable features and her biggest insecurity..her slightly bigger than the normal pointed nose . Next to this girl she felt like a shadow trying to mimick light. Korry followed Lila's gaze and chuckled "oh her ?,that's Thea we live in the same estate"Lila forced a smile but her dairy will later tell the truth.
When the day was over she saw Korry and Thea walking together, she followed the other students outside and quickly trotted to the bus stop. She got a bus immediately and boarded it . By the time Lila's bus rattled into her town, the sun was still up and shinning, the rude always made her tired and sleepy, The bus made it's stop and she got down and hurriedly went home.... stepping through the wooden gates of their compound Alway brought a kind of comfort no class room could give. Her father was off to work, back to Trustin ,a town that was four hour's drive away and only came back on his payoffs .The silence of his absence was familiar now, though Lila sometimes wished he'd be there to asked her about her day too .
Inside Roland her second brother,was sprawled in the sofa with his phone half-covering his face . He barely looked up when she entered and only grunting in respond when she greeted. The house felt different when Roland was around was around quiet but study, like a shadow that never moved too far away. Her youngest brother, Nathaniel wasn't back from school yet . He 's in 5th grade and was usually late sometimes because of his bus. Lila set her bag aside and slipped into her routine. She prepared dinner , the smell of her cooking filling the kitchen.Later she ate,bathed and slipped into her simple night dress, and laid down on her bed staring into the darkness, her thoughts wandering back to the school courtyard. Eventually she fell asleep with her face etched in her memory.