The sterile air of the international airport hung heavy with the scent of disinfectant and anticipation. Malah clutched her backpack straps, the worn leather cool against her trembling fingers. Every beat of her heart echoed in the cavernous hall, a drumbeat against the symphony of departing announcements and hurried footsteps. This was it. The point of no return.Malaysia. A land her textbooks had depicted through vibrant photographs and exotic descriptions, now seemed to loom before her as a tangible escape route. A tear escaped her eye, blurring the image of the departure board flashing a countdown to her flight. It wasn't just the excitement of a new adventure that choked her voice, but the weight of the life she was leaving behind.A kaleidoscope of memories flashed through her mind. The sting of her mother's slap, the echo of her dismissive words, the suffocating silence that followed any attempt to express her dreams. A life where she was a burden, a shadow cast by her more favored brother. This wasn't just a physical departure; it was a severance of an emotional tether that had always felt frayed, frayed to the point of breaking.Yet, a pang of guilt flickered within her. Leaving her family, even a dysfunctional one, felt like a betrayal. A vision of her father's stoic facade, his disappointment a silent weight in the room, brought a fresh wave of sadness.But then, the memory of Amna, her best friend, a beacon of unwavering support, pushed the guilt back. Amna, who had offered a haven, a chance for Malah to chase her dreams of becoming a journalist, a path her own family scoffed at.Malah fingered the worn acceptance letter tucked inside her pocket, the crinkled paper a symbol of her new life. This scholarship, her ticket to a prestigious university in Malaysia, wasn't just academics – it was a lifeline, an escape hatch from a life that had never offered her a chance to breathe.The boarding announcement crackled through the loudspeaker, jolting her out of her reverie. With a deep breath, Malah shouldered her backpack, the weight a reassuring presence. This wasn't goodbye, it was a hello – a hello to a future where her dreams wouldn't be dismissed, where her voice would be heard. Stepping onto the moving walkway, Malah walked towards the gate, each click of her heels a declaration of her choice. She was choosing herself, choosing her dreams, choosing a life where she belonged.-----------------------------------------------------------i know i write a very short chapter but i am part time writer and full time architect so i have so many pending work, which i have to complete other wise my boss, would fire me. tell me your point of views and reviews in comments, please like and share. and i hope so you like my novel and my writing style.