World Key

My name is Melody Cosmos, which basically means I'm like a musical flower... or something. I'm 14 years old, and this is my final year before high school. I'm not too nervous, but I can't count how many people are. For the most part I'm just an average teenager trying to make sense of the world, but it's hard when you don't have anyone to teach you. Ever since I can remember, I have lived on my own. I haven't had a mom and dad to look after me and to tell me right from wrong, I had to figure it out for myself. The only thing I know is that I have a mark on my right shoulder of a quarter note intertwining through a cosmos flower. That's how I got my name, at least I think. 

It's been about 7 years since I first found my current home. I hopped from Foster home to Foster home a lot when I was younger. Now I have a place that I can sorta call home. The one who takes care of me is Nora May, she's a very nice, pretty, and smart woman. Her hair is black, and it shines. She is also really fit, she doesn't seem to eve gain weight. I do look up to her, but I would never tell her that. We have a good relationship and all, but I mostly think she had pity for me. That's fine with me as long as she continues to make fruit pastries that I love. Even after 7 years she has never once told me her recipe to make those fruit pastries, Nora told me that I would never need to know the recipe because she would always be there to make them for me. Speaking of which, I have to go to the fruit fields after school today to pick some of the fruits she needs. Well, I guess I should start getting ready, I can't be late to school. 

I roll off my bed and hit my head on a pillow, this is routine by now so Nora put a pillow there for me to fall onto. Glancing at my clock, I see that it's 7:15 AM. I woke up early today, which is not normal. Walking down each step is awful, unlike most houses, this one is old with steep stairs. When I finally reach the bottom I start to smell toast, Nora usually makes breakfast in the mornings.

"Good morning Melody! The menu today consists of toast, jam, eggs, strawberries, and orange juice." Nora's sweet voice illuminates the kitchen.

"Thanks  for breakfast." My voice sounds like a growl in the mornings.

I sit down and look at my plate, the food is perfectly spread out and there is a good portion of everything. Healthy, filling, and perfect, the only way Nora knows how to make breakfast, or any meal for that matter. Opening my book I take a bite of my eggs. I was awaiting the everyday question from Nora.

"What book are you reading today?"

"It's a non-fiction book about marine animals, did you know bull sharks can live in rivers?"

"Well I don't think I'm taking you to the river to swim anymore." Nora always smiles when I tell her fun facts.

When I finish my breakfast I go back upstairs, still bearing the pain of the steepness, and I walk to the bathroom. Brushing my hair is usually easy, the brush just glides through my long blond hair. As I brush too quickly I accidentally poke myself in my bright red eyes. I brush my teeth, which are actually really straight. Finally I grab my school uniform and get dressed. My school uniform is all black with a red tie. I wrap my white scarf around my neck, and make my way to the front door. I slip on my shoes and head out the door. 

The walk to school isn't very far, but it's long enough to get quite a bit of exercise. There is a distinct path that I use to walk to school everyday, and no one else uses it. I prefer this path though because it goes through the woods and doesn't follow against the main streets. It's one of my favorite parts of the day, the sun shining through the trees, the birds singing, the little critters rustling the leaves, it's always calmed me.

As I'm walking I glance over and see a bright glare, it's not the normal type of glare when the sun shines on something shiny, it was different. Curious as I am, I wanted to see where the glare was coming from. It was pretty difficult to not trip or get hurt over the roots and branches. I ended up tripping over a root though, I fell and face planted onto the grass. When I lift my head up I notice that I was in an open field of flowers. I can't believe that I have never been here before! Looking at the grass below me, I saw that my school uniform was really dirty. The flowers smell so nice I couldn't help but lay in them.

I guess I fell asleep in the flowers because I open my eyes and the sun has gotten lower since the last time I saw it. Sitting up I hear something fall, when I look over I see a key. It didn't look like a normal house key. It was more round and there was a sign on it. The mark was the exact same mark as the one on my right shoulder. That key had the quarter note intertwining the cosmos flower mark...