paralysis

fresh start

LUNA'S  POV

Waking up has never been my strong suit. Mornings feel like betrayal—too bright, too loud, too soon.

"Luna! You better get up now or you'll be late for your first day of school!" Mom's voice pierced through the door like a warning bell.

"I'm up! I'm getting dressed!" I mumbled, dragging myself out of bed.

Today was my first day at a new school. Not because something dramatic happened at the last one—it was just boring. Lifeless halls, recycled conversations, the same faces doing the same things every day. I like change. I crave it. My old school didn't get that.

I washed up quickly, skipping the full routine. A swipe of mascara, a little lip gloss, and my hair pulled into a high ponytail. That was enough.

By the time I reached the living room, Mom was already on her daily mission: guilt-trip breakfast.

"Just like every day—you never have time for food," she said, half exasperated, half amused.

I didn't answer. I leaned down, kissed her on the cheek, and walked out the door without looking back.

I caught the bus and made it to school on time. I didn't want to risk being late on the first day, so I didn't stop to explore the campus. I walked straight to my classroom, head down, heart racing.

The teacher was already there. He gave a quick introduction—"Everyone, this is Luna. She's new"—then pointed me to an empty seat near the middle. I nodded, slid into the chair, and tried not to overthink it.

When the bell rang, I stood awkwardly, unsure where to go. New school. No friends. No idea what came next. I wandered the corridor, pretending I knew where I was going, until a voice broke through the silence.

"Heyyy, I'm Raya. We're in the same class," the girl said with an easy smile, stepping into my path.

"Hey. I'm Luna," I replied, shaking her hand. "Nice to meet you."

Raya stood there in a black tank top and a pair of jeans that fit her with effortless confidence, her ponytail swaying lightly as she smiled. A hint of makeup softened her features, making her look both casual and put together at the same time.We chatted for minutes.

"Come on," she said, her voice warm and inviting. "I'll give you a tour of the school. You haven't seen anything yet."

I followed her through the hallways as she pointed out classrooms, labs, and the cafeteria, her voice carrying a cheerful ease. Everything blurred together in my mind—until we stepped into the library.

It was breathtaking. Of course, it's normal for a reader to love a library, but even someone who never picked up a book would fall in love with this one. The space stretched wide and tall, with endless shelves stacked neatly in rows, staircases spiraling up to higher levels, and a massive clock hanging at the far end. It didn't feel like part of a school at all—it felt like a castle library, pulled straight from a storybook.

By the time the last bell rang, the day had slipped by faster than I expected. Raya tugged me along before I could protest, insisting we stop by a coffee shop near the school. I told her I wanted to be home soon, but she wouldn't take no for an answer.

"Just a little while," she said with a grin.

So I followed. After all, it was only a short stop. Just a small bit of time. What could possibly happen?

"Raya!" a blonde-haired boy called the moment we stepped into the café. His voice carried easily over the chatter, and Raya immediately waved back, tugging me toward him.