2. Silvervale

I folded the last of my clothes into the brown suitcase that once belonged to my mother, my hands shook slightly, not from fear but from resolve.

I was going to prove everyone wrong.

I was going to attend Silvervale Academy not because of Theo, but to carve my own path.

My heart hurts so much from the betrayal but it only made me realize that I was better than what anyone thought about me.

I closed the half filled suitcase and paused, taking a deep breath. Regardless of how hurt I was, I was still excited. I was finally going to be attending the school I had always wanted to attend.

I zipped the suitcase, placing it on the floor, I rolled it out of my room intending to say my goodbyes.

I know my dad would never agree to my leaving but I was not going to let him stop me.

I walked into the dining area, my dad sitting at the dining table, his eyes glued to a paper, with a half finished cup of coffee steaming beside him.

“Dad” I tried to get his attention, keeping my voice steady, knowing what was going to come next.

“What is it now?” he did not spare me a glance, grabbing the steaming coffee from the table. He took a sip and placed it back, his eyes still fixated on the paper he was reading.

“I’m leaving”

He lowered the paper and looked at me, his eyes met the suitcase I was holding, his brows furrowed “Where are you going”

I inhaled deeply before replying to him “school”

He scoffed “We’ve talked about this Lyra, I am not paying a dime for you to chase your silly dreams”

“Well, I do not need it either” I retorted.

His eyes narrowed “What did you say”

“I worked over the summer and I saved enough money, so you don’t need to spend anything on me,” I said boldly. “It’s not like you ever cared to ask but I got accepted into Silvervale Academy”

For a moment, there was silence, then he chuckled, “You expect me to believe that some elite school accepted you? Stop making things up”

“It’s true, and I’m not making things up” I reached for my phone and showed him the acceptance letter, my hands trembling slightly.

He snatched it, stared at it for some time, and placed it on the table.

“And you think the money you saved during the summer would help you in an elite school” he was the least happy that I was accepted into the academy.

“I got a full scholarship, and everything is covered,” I responded.

That got his attention “You must have lied in the application or tricked someone into it”

“I did not,” I stated firmly. My knuckles turned white around the suitcase handle.

“You think you are better than this family now,” he snapped, rising from the chair so fast it scraped against the floor. “For all I know that email may be fake, and you want to use this as a way to walk out of your responsibilities”

My throat tightened but I did not back down “I am chasing my own future”

I could see he was already getting enraged.

The door to the kitchen opened and my mother walked out, wearing an apron.

“What’s going on?” she asked, looking between me and my father.

“She keeps on lying that she has been accepted into Silvervale Academy” my dad answered clearly he still hasn't believed me.

My mum turned to me, then looked at the suitcase I was holding “Lyra, is it true?”

I nodded, “Yes, I got in and I will be leaving today”

She smiled brightly and pulled me into a hug. I could hear my father’s footsteps storming out of the room.

She drew back from the hug and wiped her cheeks, making me notice that she was crying.

My mum was the only one who genuinely cared for me.

She unclipped the golden necklace she had been wearing and clipped it around my neck.

The small moon pendant glinted in the light.

“Remember that I will always support your dreams, this necklace always brought me luck and I hope it will do the same for you”

I held back the tears that threatened to fall and hugged her tightly. “I will make you proud”

“You already have,” she whispered.

The trip to Silvervale Academy took almost six hours, the road was through thick forest and trees.

When the bus finally stopped, I stepped out and gasped at the view in front of me.

It was ethereal.

The gates of the academy were tall, and the grand black and gold architecture radiated luxury and mystery. The academy crest was engraved in the middle.

The air felt different here, I walked into the school gates, taking in the surroundings of the school.

Looking around I realized I did not know where to go, and It would be hard to find my way around here.

“You look lost” I turned to see a girl dragging a pink suitcase, her brown hair was packed in a ponytail.

“First day,” she asked, her smile bright and warm.

“Yes, you?”

She nodded eagerly “I’m Ivy, I’ve been walking around. This school is huge. What’s your name by the way”

“Lyra,” I replied.

“Nice meeting you Lyra, The registration office should be up ahead, come on, let’s go”

I guess I was not going to get lost after all.

I followed Ivy as she walked towards a building.

When we reached the registration hall, I couldn’t help but stare. The marble floors gleamed under a chandelier, and the air smelled faintly of roses and expensive perfume. Several students were lined up at the counter, chatting softly.

“Welcome to Silvervale Academy,” A lady sitting behind the desk said, smiling politely. “Please sign in and collect your dorm assignments.”

Ivy and I stepped forward, taking turns to fill out our forms.

The lady handed me my dorm keys, “room 201”

“Thank you,” I said, gripping the key tightly.

Ivy squealed “We are roommates. We are going to have so much fun”

She seemed like a really nice person.

Ivy chatted excitedly as we made our way to the dorm.

I suddenly stopped, making Ivy stop abruptly beside me.

“What’s wrong” she asked

My stomach dropped as I stared forward.

This was the last person I wanted to see.

Anger washed through me.