"[Name], the daughter of Sherry Parker, decided to leave Detroit for good after her father died in a tragic car accident. Seeking a fresh start, she and her mother moved to Beijing, China.
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As the group made their way back to the buses, I found myself trailing behind, lost in my thoughts. The events of the day swirled in my mind, and I was barely aware of my surroundings. Mrs. Po, our tour guide, noticed and approached me, her hand gently resting on my back.
"Is everything all right, Ms. Parker?" she asked softly, her smile warm and comforting.
Startled, I looked up and stammered a quiet response, "Y-Yes, thank you, Mrs. Po." I forced a smile and continued walking, trying to compose myself.
Mrs. Po wasn’t convinced. "You seem a bit out of sorts. Is there something you’d like to talk about?" she pressed gently.
I shook my head, not ready to share my turmoil. "No, I’m fine. Really."
"All right, but remember, I’m here if you need someone to talk to," she said kindly, giving my shoulder a reassuring squeeze before moving on to check on the other students.
Once on the bus, I settled into a seat in the middle, hoping for some peace and quiet. However, my tranquility was disrupted by the conversation of Liang and Zhuang sitting behind me.
“Did you see the way she was staring into space?” Zhuang whispered loudly.
“Yeah, totally spaced out,” Liang replied with a chuckle.
Cheng, who had been observing me from across the aisle, smirked and whispered something to Liang. They exchanged glances before Liang changed seats, leaning towards my side.
"Hey, Parker, what’s with the cat?" Cheng asked, his voice dripping with mock curiosity.
My heart skipped a beat as I noticed Cheng's gaze fixated on the kitten in my hand. The kitty, sensing the tension, hissed at Cheng, causing me to instinctively pull back.
"Whoa, easy there," Cheng said with a grin, raising his hands in mock surrender. "Didn’t mean to scare your little friend."
Ms. Po, who had been scanning the bus, turned her attention to the commotion, looking perplexed. Cheng, his face now flushed, met her gaze, and a faint smile graced Ms. Po's lips.
“Cheng, maybe you should find your own seat and let Ms. Parker enjoy some peace,” Mrs. Po suggested gently but firmly.
Cheng grumbled but moved back to his original seat, though he continued to sneak glances at me. Clutching the kitten close to my chest, I could feel my heart racing.
I took deep breaths to calm myself, finding solace in the gentle licks the kitten offered my finger, as if sensing my unease.
A small smile played on my lips as I looked down at the cat, still aware of the lingering blush on my cheeks. The presence of the kitten provided a sense of comfort, reminding me that I was not alone in this new and sometimes overwhelming environment.
