Ava trudged through the crowded hallway of her school, her eyes scanning the sea of familiar faces. She was a ghost among them, invisible and unremarkable. That was exactly how she liked it.
As a teenager with a secret, Ava had mastered the art of blending in. Her light brown skin seem to absorb the dull colors of her surroundings, and her dark hair hung like a curtain, hiding her face from pronying eyes. She was just another student, another face in the crowd.
But Ava was different. She had powers. Elemental powers, to be exact. She could manipulate the air around her, summoning gusts of wind or whispering breezes, fire, water or earth with a mere thought. It was a gift, one she didn't ask for and didn't want.
Growing up, Ava had learned to suppress her abilities, afraid of what people might think. Her dad died when she was young, and she lived with her mum, who worked multiple jobs to provide for them. Ava didn't want to burden her mum with her strange abilities, so she kept them hidden.
As she walked, Ava's mind wonder to her mum's words: "Keep it hidden, Ava. Keep it safe." She had always wondered what her mum meant, but she never asked. It was easier to just pretend everything was normal.
Ava slipped into her seat just as the bell rang, signaling the start of another day. She pulled out her books trying to focus on the teacher's words, but her mind kept drifting to her powers. They simmered beneath the surface, like a pot about to boil over.
At lunch, Ava sat alone at a table by the window, watching the rain drizzle down. She loved the sound of raindrops on the pavement, it was soothing. She closed her eyes, feeling the gentle rhythm, and let her guard down.
A faint breeze stirred, rustling the leaves outside. Ava's eye snapped open,and she quickly tamped down her powers. She scanned the room, but no one seem to have noticed. Just a normal day, she told herself.
The rest of the day passed in a blur and Ava was relieved to be heading home. She trudged through the rain, her hood up and her eyes fixed on the ground. As she opened the door to her flat, she was greeted by the warm scent of cooking and her mum's tired smile.
"Ava, hi love," her mum said, wiping her hands on a towel. "How was school?"
Ava drops her bag and shrugged. "Same old."
Her mum nodded, and they sat down to eat. Ava pushed her food around her plate, feeling the weight of her secret bearing down on her. She wanted to tell her mum, to share the burden, but she didn't know how.
As they finished up, Ava's mom reached out and touched her hand."You know you can tell me anything, right?" she said, her eyes searching.
Ava felt the lump form in her throat. She wanted to, she really did. But the words stuck and she just nodded, forcing a smile. "I know, Mum."
Her mum's expression turned thoughtful, but she let it go. For now.
Ava retreated to her room, feeling the weight of her secret growing heavier by the minute. She lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling, and wondered how long she could keep it up. The pressure was building and she didn't know how much longer she could keep her powers hidden.
As she drifted off to sleep, Ava's mind was racing. What would happen if her powers got out of control? What will people think? What would her mum think?
The questions swirled, keeping her awake, until the darkness claimed her.
To be continued...