Morning came too early.
The sound of waves crashing against the cliffs was my new alarm clock, and honestly, it wasn't the worst way to wake up.
Mira was already gone when I opened my eyes. Her bed was perfectly made, like no one had slept in it at all. For a second, I thought about the bracelet and the way she'd looked at me yesterday like I'd touched something sacred. But I shook it off.
New school. New start. No drama. That was the plan.
I got ready, pulled on the dark blue uniform, and headed to breakfast. The dining hall was huge long wooden tables, walls covered in old portraits, and sunlight spilling in from tall windows that faced the sea. Everyone seemed to know everyone. I didn't.
A group of girls were laughing about something near the milk station. When I passed, one of them glanced at my badge. "New girl?" she asked.
"Yeah," I said. "Lina."
"I'm Naomi," she said with a friendly smile. "You'll like it here. Unless you hate rules."
I smirked. "Rules and I don't always get along."
She laughed and slid over to make space at the table. I liked her instantly warm, talkative, easy to be around.
But even while she chatted, my mind kept drifting. Where was Mira?
The classrooms were in the main building, and by the time I arrived for our first class, the room was already filling up with students all of them dressed neatly in the navy uniforms, chatting in small groups.
I slid into an empty seat near the middle, unpacked my notebook, and tried not to look too nervous. That's when I noticed her.
Mira. Sitting across the room, quietly placing her books on her desk. She didn't talk or laugh with anyone. She just… was. Her hair caught the sunlight like liquid silver, and her eyes the same color as the ocean that had been calling me awake glanced up just enough to notice me staring.
I quickly looked away, pretending to take notes, though nothing was registering.
The teacher called the class to order, and we spent the next hour on introductions and course rules. Still, I couldn't stop sneaking glances at Mira. She was exactly my age, in the same class, and yet… there was something about her. Something I couldn't figure out.
By lunch, I had convinced myself that maybe it was just curiosity. We were classmates, after all. Same age, same schedule. I would get used to her. I had lunch with my new friend Naomi.
After school I returned to the dorm but when l entered something felt… off.
The window was open, curtains fluttering in the salty breeze. Mira's side of the room looked untouched which wasn't back yet but l remember closing the window before going to class.
So who opened the window?