LOGIN“Lily, you’re not going anywhere. There’s nothing fun out there!” Mum shouted from the doorway, her voice sharp like a knife cutting through my chest.
I froze, my hands gripping the edge of my study table. “What? Mom everyone is going! Why am I the only one being stopped? Even Kathryn is going to the party. Why are you always different when it comes to me?”She folded her arms, her eyes narrowing. “Lily, I said no. You are still new in this town, and you can’t go out at night especially not to some party filled with strangers. I don’t want to discuss this any further.”My heart thumped fast. “But Mom! Why are you treating me like a kid? I’ll be eighteen this year. I’m not a baby anymore. I’m an adult, for crying out loud! Please, just treat me like one for once. I’m tired of being caged, tired of being told what I can and can’t do. I know how to take care of myself, and I’m not going alone,I’m going with my friend Linda.”Her expression softened for a second, then ha“Lily, you’re not going anywhere. There’s nothing fun out there!” Mum shouted from the doorway, her voice sharp like a knife cutting through my chest.I froze, my hands gripping the edge of my study table. “What? Mom everyone is going! Why am I the only one being stopped? Even Kathryn is going to the party. Why are you always different when it comes to me?”She folded her arms, her eyes narrowing. “Lily, I said no. You are still new in this town, and you can’t go out at night especially not to some party filled with strangers. I don’t want to discuss this any further.”My heart thumped fast. “But Mom! Why are you treating me like a kid? I’ll be eighteen this year. I’m not a baby anymore. I’m an adult, for crying out loud! Please, just treat me like one for once. I’m tired of being caged, tired of being told what I can and can’t do. I know how to take care of myself, and I’m not going alone,I’m going with my friend Linda.”Her expression softened for a second, then ha
We were done with Inspirational Class. It was a free period, so Linda and I decided to grab lunch.The cafeteria was full as usual noise everywhere, laughter echoing, trays clattering, and a few people pretending not to look at who just walked in. The smell of foods filled the air.We squeezed our way through the crowd and finally spotted an empty table by the window.“Finally,” Linda breathed, collapsing into a chair.I ordered pasta with egg and yogurt. I was too hungry to even talk.“Don’t tell me you’re ordering only your own plate of pasta,” Linda shouted as I collected my order from the waitress.“Is something wrong with your mouth, or should I replace it with Kathryn’s?” I teased.She frowned dramatically. “God forbid!” Then quickly made her own order rice and chicken sauce.“Lily,” Linda said after a while, lowering her voice. “Did you see those guys? The almighty fine ones The Bold?”I rolled my eyes. “What about them? They’re just normal. There’s nothing special about those
“Oh no, I’m going to be late!” I groaned, rushing out of the bathroom with my towel wrapped tightly around me. With only a few minutes left, I scrambled to get dressed black mini jeans skirt and a fitted white top, and white sneakers to match. I let my hair fall free, styling two neat braids from the sides near my ears. A gold hairband held everything together, keeping it from falling into my face. After packing my school materials into my black bag, I stood before the mirror. My reflection looked exhausted, so I quickly applied a little makeup foundation, powder, a hint of lipstick, and shaped my brows. My “simple look” as I liked to call it was just gloss, powder, and soft baby curls. An hour later, I was finally downstairs. I packed my breakfast into a bag because there was no way I could eat that much food right now. Dad had already given me permission to take his truck. “He’s such a good man,” I smiled, slipping on my knuckles rings. I was still admiring the car when my
The shrill sound of my alarm jolts me out of sleep. I groan and stretch, realizing it’s already six on the dot. Time to get ready for school. I drag myself out of bed and head for the shower.Thirty minutes later, I’m done bathing and brushing. Now comes the hardest part deciding what to wear. My wardrobe is full of beautiful clothes, yet picking one always feels like a battle.After several minutes of indecision, I settle for a black body-fitted short gown with a side slit that runs from my thigh down to my knee. It’s off-shoulder with long sleeves, and the fit makes my curves stand out softly. I add a thin belt around my waist to highlight the shape.It’s plain black with subtle designs elegant but bold.I match it with black block heels and a medium-sized black handbag. One last look in the mirror and I smile. Wow. I’m freaking beautiful. My skin glows, my curves sit right, and my hair neatly braided in black extensions frames my face with two thin strands left
“Lily! I’m talking to you! You better come back here right now!”My mother’s voice pierced the calm evening air, sharp and desperate, but I didn’t stop. My sneakers hit the road in quiet defiance as I walked away from the house that didn’t feel like home. I didn’t even know where I was going only that I needed to get away.The wind brushed against my face, carrying the smell of wet earth and pine trees. Everything here looked perfect too perfect. The roads were smooth, the houses tall and shining, and the air so clean it almost smelled fake. I missed the noise, the mess, the city lights… I missed home.Cutie, my little brown dog, trotted beside me, his tiny paws pattering against the pavement. His tongue hung out, eyes drooping with exhaustion.“Alright, boy,” I sighed, glancing around before spotting a low stone bench by the roadside. “Let’s rest for a bit.”I sat down and leaned back, staring at the huge mansions across the street. Their windows glowed like eye







