On the way to Mass that morning, Sister Maria walks down the hall, making no noise or hurrying noise with her steps, her eyes cast down and her hair dutifully covered by her white veil. Her hands put together as though in prayer while her rosary hangs down from between her fingers.
Some younger sisters shuffle beside her, already late for their classes.
"Good morning Sister Maria."
They greet her as they pass, bowing slightly.
She nods back. Tomorrow, she will profess her final vows and receiver her own ring, she will be fully committed to this convent, and from a point like that, there is no turning around.
The thought of becoming a nun right at eighteen years of age is a dream come true. She looks around as she walks down to mass. She had grown up here and her own classes had started right from when she could write and read so hers had been faster than her own mate.
"Are you that excited for your birthday?" A homely voice snaps her out of her thoughts.
"Mother." She greets, blushing slightly.
"You can relax, I was just as happy as you are now when it was my own time. Its good when it's the vow ceremony that makes you this happy. Birthdays, though, should not make you this happy knowing you should rid yourself of any worldly belongings to fully be His bride."
"Its not the birthday, Mother, it's the ceremony. I'll soon have my own black veil."
Mary pats her on the shoulder, smiling reassuringly. "We should not be late, come on."
Walking beside her, Maria tries to keep her mind from wandering but it's a short while away from the chapel but she takes occasional glances at the elder and more experienced walking by her. She had been here long enough to see her change ranks twice as she was already a nun here when Maria started to talk on her own and see people and things consciously, so, Sister Mary here is presumably the closest to a mum that she would ever have.
"You know, eighteen looks good on you."
"hm?"
"You have grown, maybe I just haven't been seeing it but your body seems to have a built more curves now. Well need a bigger tunic for you to hide those roving eyes from your body now. Even a couple of our father's eyes might catch that." She jokes and Maria laughs. "But seriously, you seem to be having mature body now. I hope the Father will be able to guide you in his ways of purity. You'll need it." She pats her shoulders as the chapel comes into sight, and together, both women enter just as Mass is about to start.
It starts with the introductory rites where the ministers enter in a procession and revere the altar, closely behind them comes in two fathers who are late to mass. Maria stifles a chuckle as she sees them compose themselves as they come in late.
She keeps her eyes on them as they walk forward to find places to sit, her eyes pinned on one particular father.
Suddenly, his eyes meet hers. She immediately closes them in prayer, chastising herself for staring at him.
For some reason, she can still feel him staring, she moves her body unconsciously as she prays, feeling his eyes hotly on her body. She is nudged by a younger novice beside her.
"Why are you moving like that?" She whispers, her eyes slightly wide and roving.
"what do you mean?"
"Your chest is pressed forward."
Maria looks down and true to her words, her chest was pushed forward in an awkward way. She straightens her back. "Thank you. I didn't even know."
The novice nods and returns to her prayer.
Maria opens her eyes a crack and looks over at where Father Atlas is seated, his eyes are still staring at her, and this time, she does not look away, a new surge of courage coursing through her veins.
And slowly, under the scrutiny of his eyes, her breasts grow, almost pushing out of her tunic.