To my one and only daughter.

As you have this letter opened, facing the things you wish to lock away, I know better than anyone that you're mad. Not only at me, but at the world. How could it be so vicious? You may be pondering. Truth is, I often ask why humanity is bitter, too.

I'm sorry for dragging you away from your home, and forcing you into this.

But... I know the moment you step through Astra's gates, you will receive a more heartwarming life. I know within the coldest nights, you will be given the warmest bath. The silkiest clothes. And the tastiest food.

I could never give you any of those things, even If I tried.

An ache runs through my bones as I read my mother's broken confessions. Pausing to look away from the beautifully handwritten letter, a moment is what I take before continuing.

If you ever catch a star—one of devotion, I have a token of advice for you.

If the love dies within time, it was never true love to begin with.

May the sun dance with you, as the moon did with me.

Sincerely, Mother.

The atmosphere around me seems to be motionless as realization creeps up on me.

I've been sent away from my home and now Mother excepts I see this... This school as my new one? Father left no remaining words for me. He never had them before, foolish of me to think he would now.

The sky grows dark, and with a weary glance, it may seem that it's reflecting me. The azure was weeping. For me? I ask myself, though an answer is not certain.

My stare heightened to the gate in front of me. It looked old, the stone pillars supporting the middle metal are stained with grime, covered with green vines that spiral up to the top. The midst of this gate swirled in techniques no other could imagine.

Behind the large gate of Astra's rested a large school. I'm sure some may mistake it for an old, royal castle. Though seemingly versial, the courtyard surrounding with healthy grass—booming with my soon-to-be fellow classmates.

I neatly fold up the letter before I tuck it inside my school jacket to protect it from the rain. Bending down to pick up the suitcase on the ground, I, too, grab and extended the umbrella that was laying on top of my luggage.

The gates slowly opened—as if on cue. With a hesitant expression, I slowly strut through the gates, and to my soon-to-be residence.

Was there something on my face? Had my hair become jumbled due to the heavy winds? Why was every student staring at me like I was a foreigner while walking through the courtyard? Their eyes were unforgiving---I don't know what to do except harshly clench my suitcase handle.

Outstretched in front of me was a line of gravel, leading me to two large doors---ones that guide me inside the school. I keep my eyes lowered as the whispers got louder than they should have.

The man whom dropped me off at the front gates told me to find the dean of this school, and from there I'd know what to do. I'm hasty to get myself through the large oak wood doors, attempting to blur out everyone's voices, but it was getting harder as the seconds passed. Good whispers or not, the uneasiness still runs up my back like a venomous spider.

Slamming the doors shut behind me, I can't help but let my back rest on the wooden entrances. Closing my eyes with a deep sigh, nothing but tension trembles throughout my body. I feel as If I want to choke out a sob, the whole world was against me and I fail to know why. Why has my mother betrayed me? Why must I be here?

Should I hold enmity towards mother and father for sending me here? Or should I just accept It---knowing my options are slim considering how to get the hell out of here? My hands are clammy, my throat is dry, all while I open my eyes to stare at the enormous halls In front of me.

Maybe---just maybe, they don't get new students often. Astra Is In the middle of nowhere... Maybe there's nothing wrong with me. Maybe It's them.

I shake It all away. Loomed around were staircases that spiraled up on both sides, leading up to a higher floor. All the walls were pure stone, and running among those walls were doors---ones I assume that held the classrooms I would be studying in.

It takes time and mindlessly wandering around before I'm standing In front of a door with a metal name graving, Dean Wellsy. It says. The same name the driver told me to search for.

I only bleed more anxiety within my veins as I push open this door, I am nothing but awkward, tense, and apprehensive.

It's always been like that. Feeling as If I... I don't belong.

Anywhere.

Mr. Wellsy is sitting at his large desk once I get inside. Behind the desk are bookshelves hugging almost every wall, and those being filled with knowledge themselves. I can feel my hand trembling on the doorknob, It's surely sweaty, too. Mr. Wellsy has a long snow-white beard, and covering his eyes were a round pair of glasses---so tiny---I noted. All of that paired with a wise expression.

"Ah---!" He smiles, looking up from his papers, "Miss...---"

"Rosie Lue Jane." I give him a nervous smile, "My name can be tricky for some, especially that last part. It's become a habit to correct people."

He laughs lightly---with the type of voice that Is oddly solacing, before urging me over to sit In one of the free chairs across his desk. I do as he insists, quickly at that.

"Let us start then. We'll go over your living arrangements first," He begins, "You'll be assigned a roommate—I'm sure you'll also meet her later today." Mr. Wellsy grumbles, flipping through some more papers.

His eyes brighten as he lands on a single document, "And here is your schedule for classes, which will start next week for you—get settled in foremost, I advise! Take the rest of the week off for relaxation, you'll need it, Rose." I nod vastly at his words, grabbing the paper he hands me that I guess is my schedule. I'm, too, paying attention to every small piece of information that leaves his lips.

"And how will I know where this all is? My dorm, the classes?"

Mr. Wellsy chuckles lightly before sending a brief nod behind me.

"Theo here has volunteered to give you a tour. I suggest you thank him." My face contours in confusion—my eyes even squint a little.

Though I'm vast to find that Mr. Wellsy was in fact right about the suspected boy. I shift in my chair to see, and there he stood next to the door, his hands stuffed inside his uniform pockets. His face was gloomy, annoyed maybe? No. It looks as If he had gotten no sleep. Now I'm wondering how I didn't see him when I first stepped inside.

I really must be uneasy.

My eyes meet his own weary ones, and for a brief moment, I see something behind them. Something forlorn, though that look dissolves into nothing. He seems to cover his expressions easily making me confused about what I glimpsed.

Theo had a strongly built face, though his smaller features were softer. His eyes, for example, were a pretty shade of grey, and his hair was messy and a very dark shade of brown. Theo gives the loitering impression that he had just rolled out of bed.

Those eyes of his looked so pale though, lost in the haze of the horizons, I wonder if something so nonsensical could even connect.

He looks lifeless.

"Theo." I beamed at him, the sweetest smile I could give, "Thank you for taking the time to do so—It means a lot."

Mr. Wellsy stands up, a cane in his hand, "That was just about It, I'm afraid. You'll enjoy yourself here, Rose. I can feel it in my soul," He pauses and starts to exit the room, "I must ask that you please excuse me, as I have a meeting to get to now."

"Oh. Of course, Mr. Wellsy. Have a good rest of your day..!" I tell him before he leaves the room.

Which now leaves only Theo and me.

He remains standing in the same spot moments before, tall bookshelves behind him as he merely basks in my appearance.

I grow nervous under his stare—subconsciously wondering if he was judging me. My smile seems to falter at every passing moment. What do I say? What do I do?

"So—"

"What's your favorite flower?" He cuts me off with a small head tilt.

I open my lips to declare something about how spontaneous the question is, but nothing comes out. Only a mellow croak.

"The Daisy..?" I stare at him as he stares at me, my lips press into a thin line, "I love all kinds of flowers, but the Daisy is just so captivating. And not because it's everyone's favorite, but because it's subtle. The simplicity of the flower makes me warm... If that makes sense. Oh—you know those fields that are surrounded with daisies?"

Theo smiles at my rambling and it's hard to deny the flip in my heart—because he actually seems interested in my silly tirade about Daisy's.

"Of course," He says before he inches closer to me. I still sit in the chair as he stands, so I have to look up at him, "They're pretty, aren't they? I swear they stretch for miles on in---those fields."

My cheeks turn rosy, "I know, right!? Can you imagine dancing there while they're in full bloom?"

"With a loved one?" He ponders, "Wouldn't that be far superior, don't you think?"

I do think for a moment, and I could swear that my eyes glimmer.

"That would be lovely." I softly smile. "Having a picnic as well."

"Lovely indeed," Theo says submissively, "A picnic would make it memorable, too. It's a shame there a none around these parts."

My face reddens. I tug at the hem of my jacket nervously.

"I hope you're not implying---"

His sudden laugh cuts off my talking, and to say it's something close to a melody would be a shameful lie. I don't think I've ever heard such a beautiful laugh emit from such a beautiful boy. Now that I look at Theo a little more, his face seems to glow---he doesn't seem, as I said earlier, deathly looking.

"Oh, no," He shakes his head---I swear he may have even wiped a tear from his eye, "Not yet at least, Darling."

My stomach does a flip, my heart drops to my feet, and my face feels like It's burning up. I've never felt in such a way---a way that staggers my anxiety.

I've never felt so comfortable.

I can't help but lower my head with a sheepish smile, "Don't be ludicrous now---we just met, we don't know each other."

Theo extends his hand, he has a crooked grin plastered across his face. Though with such a warm smile, his deathly eyes still seem to illuminate in the dusk of the lowly lit room.

"Shall I give you that tour now? Perhaps while we're at it, you can tell me about yourself?" I look up at him and hesitantly clasp his hand delicately. The moment our skin makes connection, a shock of ador runs through me.

I'm too dazed to decipher if the shock is in a good or bad way.

Once I'm on my feet, he seems hesitant to let go, but eventually does so.

"That would be very nice." I softly whisper.

"So, why did you choose to attend Astra?"

I want to laugh at how stupid the question buzzes through my ears. Choose? I would never choose to come here. Never.

"I can't say I chose to be here."

Theo turns to me with a raised brow as we both walk down a hallway---the walls covered with paintings besmeared by the talented art students of Astra. Ranging from the longing of forbidden love, to a simple portrait of fruit, all the illustrations told a story of their own.

Even with the disdainful taste inside my mouth at the mention of Astra, the school itself Is stunning. The architectural work is astonishing, and now that I'm glimpsing upon It, the work pumped out by the students is too.

I was briefly mentioned of the terms for this... School. Confusion jumbles about me as I still decided on what to label this place.

Only a select few get to attend, those who excel In just about everything.

And I guess I'm one of those people.

Minus the snark and stuck up attitudes.

"Hm? You don't want to be here?"

I laugh lightly, stopping In my tracks to stare at a painting that displayed landscape---sheep's and a farmer, alongside his son who were flocking the herd upside a large green hill. The fathers clothes were torn apart, covered in grub, as for the son looked much more healthy and well dressed.

"I wouldn't be here even if I was getting paid." I scowl, "I've only been here for a mere minutes, and I get the vibe that everybody already loathes me. I honestly just want to go home. To my real home."

I can sense the sympathy In his gaze, "This is your home, Rosie. Whether you like it or not, I'm not sure that matters now." he turns to similarly look at the painting with me, "And everybody doesn't hate you. Trust me."

His words send a special kind of pang to my gut. Disarray mixed with dismay jumbled deep within. My nerves were starting to arise In a way I couldn't understand.

"And what if you're wrong?"

My words confuse Theo. He turns to me with a perplexed look.

"I'm not sure I follow..?"

"What if this isn't the home for me? What if no matter how hard I try, how hard I smile, how sultry I make my tone, what if everyone still looks at me like I've committed a crime." I send him a saddened look, "Home is foreign thing to me, Theo."

His lips form into a frown as he gazes at my side profile gaping at the portrait. I couldn't and wouldn't dare to look away from the image, not until Theo said something back. Something that made the tiniest sense to me.

I've just met him. Sure. So why am I dribbling my personal problems In front of him? Is something inside me hoping he'll grab the missing piece and somehow make things better?

Impossible.

Friendships and imaginable love can only go so far.

"Sometimes the moon is a little while to set. The sun, a little longer to rise."

I don't look at him. The painting in front of me speaks more words than I ever could. Its tells a story, one of love and hardship. Impoverishment and covered wealth.

The canvas of my complexion spoke only a mere few words, "And sometimes the horizon catches neither."

Theo suddenly laughs whilst shaking his head. My perpetual vision catches him doing so, which only makes my brows furrow. I try to understand Theo's chuckles as I do the painting. What an odd boy.

"Rose, My Darling, you aren't the horizon," His sudden sentence catches me off guard, my face jerks towards him with tinted cheeks and wide eyes. He only stares at me with a gaze I can't read, a slim smile on his face and his hands stuffed inside his uniform pockets.

He suddenly tells me, "You are the sea."