Kat's POV
That night, after seeing Collin again after all these years, I could not go to sleep. All the memories came flooding back. The pain, the love, the heartbreak, the sadness.
Seven and a halve years ago:
I was seven when I transferred to Oakley Academy, a prestigious school for gifted young children. My parents made many sacrifices for my health, my education, and my wellbeing. Even though they were not wealthy, they took great care of my younger sister and I, making many sacrifices to give us the best education, love, and comfort.
The day I began classes at Oakley Academy began like any other. It began with great hope, anticipation, and filled with great promise.
I didn't know anyone one moving in but instantly became friends with the neighbor girl, Aracele St. Clair. She noticed all the doodles on my notebook and asked about them. I invited her over and we spent that afternoon drawing and talking about our interests, likes, dislikes, getting to know each other better.
After hanging out after a week, the topic of school came up and we soon found out we would be going to the same school. To say I was excited would be an understatement. We spent the rest of the summer hanging out whenever we both had the time and doing everything we could both think of. We spent the week before school getting ourselves ready and prepped.
Since Aracele had gone to the academy the year before, she told me everything there was to know about school; who the popular kids were, who were the kind teacher and who you needed to just nod and get through the class with. She let me know what to expect in class, and she even drew me a map of the campus, even numbering and naming which classes were in which building, not that I would need it anyway because she would be my own personal ambassador.
Little did I know all that planning and excitement was going to waste.
First day of classes arrived and I couldn't be happier, until my mother came rushing in to give me a hug, tears streaming down her face.
"Katerina, I'm so sorry but, baby," she hesitated as she looked at me lovingly. "I just received a call..."
I looked at my mother's eyes and tears instantly flowed. This could not be happening. I needed to wake up. I kept shaking my head sideways.
"No, mother, you're wrong!" I cried out desperately. "You're wrong!"
My mother tried to hold me and comfort me as I fought her off.
I did not go to school that day. Nor did I intend to go anywhere let alone the whole week. I tried desperately to not have to go but the school said I truly needed to if I wanted to continue at the academy, which at that moment in life, I did not care about anything.
Begrudgingly, I made it to school, only to feel like a total outcast. You would have thought I took a year off of school with the cold reception I received. Oh great, as I got the new girl vibe from everyone, I would see them whispering amongst themselves . They had a one week head start on me but already they had formed their groups of friends. A week in that environment was plenty of time for some to get to know each other but now I was just coming in, disrupting the flow.
I instantly hated being there. No one was welcoming at all except the teachers, who all knew my situation and and tried to comfort me and give me grace whenever they could. But the students were the complete opposite. Rather than offer words of comfort, they kept their distance, not know how to approach, increasing the tension and awkwardness.
I thought it would get better as the weeks went by but months later it was the same. And rather than opening up to anyone, school became a place that I went to, studied, and came home, my joy and excitement for it long gone.
I fell into a depressive state. This lasted for more than six months. Until one day, I was walking home and saw a bouquet of flowers in a flower shop. It shone beautifully, flawless, perky, and most importantly, it sat there very elegantly -even though it was dead. How can something that no longer had life continue to to be so beautiful!
I did not realize how long I was standing there staring when a girl came out with red hair.
"Hi, I'm Sammy!" She smiled. "Are you okay?"
I looked at her and realized tears were streaming down my face.
"Come inside, mom has hot chocolate brewing in the back." She tugged at my sleeve and I followed her in. "Come over here behind the counter, there are chairs we can sit at while we wait!"
"Ok." I responded absent minded, following her closely.