The Glass Princess: True To Yourself

Chapter 9 Moving forward how I choose to

Chapter 9 Moving forward how I choose to

Inbetween classes I had a walk around campus, still trying to get my bearings. Naomi was busy with an inclass test so I can't ask her. She normally has her phone ready even when she is in class. But today it was me. Trying to figure out where exactly the lgbt club room is.... The directions were vague. The buildings towered over me, many of which look the same.

My outfit today was fairly simple. Black skirt with a button up White top. I admit I hesitated on the White top since its a little fancier? Other girls around me don't seem to be wearing skirts though. That feeling of sticking out intensifies with each cis girl I pass by who is wearing jeans. Made because its getting a little colder since its autumn and all. But jeans always gave me dysphoria so I personally avoided them. I passed by more and more students, some in big groups, some in smaller ones. The loud sounds of chatter eventually fade out as I find myself in a an area of campus with seemingly no one. The concrete path continues into a grassy field leading to a far away building. But here itself is a park of some kind? Nearby is what seems to be a preschool? I approach the bench that faces the preschool and take a seat to relax a bit from walking. It had a bright green gate that blocked entrance but the playground inside was visible. Many kids inside are running around with various staff members sitting around talking. A group of kids were kicking around a little ball back and forth. It didn't seem to be a specific game but they just seemed happy to be there. I found myself happy to see people enjoying themselves. The ball quickly got kicked by a young girl in such a way that sparked a vague memory of playing something similar in preschool but I didn't have much more to go off than that. However before I could think about it much further, the ball went under the gap in the fence rolling over to my feet. The kids stared expectantly for me to pass it back. I sit up and pick up the ball slowly bringing it back. One of the girls held her hands out of the fence to grab the ball smiling. I happily hand it back to her. "Thank you miss!" The kids yell in a rehearsed manner and run off with the ball. Before I could say a word they were gone. I gripped the fence with both hands leaning against it. In an almost focused trance it felt bittersweet watching them have fun like that. Whatever they were playing with the ball, turned into some kinda catch game. "Thanks for doing that for the kids" an older woman who worked there said suddenly. I didn't seem to notice her walk over. "Anytime, I didn't want the ball getting lost" I explain with a small smile. "Luckily there was an adult on the other side of the fence to get the ball, going all the way around to fetch balls has always been the less exciting part about this job" she explains as she takes a seat near the fence. One of those plastic chairs you'd see in every school ever. The type you'd lean back on when your back hurt to get a little crack. Improvised chiropractor visits. "You just relaxing here inbetween classes young lady?" she asked with curiosity. My eyes break away from the kids playing back to her and nod. "I um guess you could say that..." I explain nervously. "I'll leave you to it then, resting gets more important as you get older" she explained as she got out her phone to look at. I look over to the playground and in the centre sat a fun sliperty dip. The kinda slide that's modeled to look like a platypus tail. The sensation of the slide back near home came back to me. I look back to the kids playing and the staff member on her phone. I let go of the green fence and slowly walk back to the university's main area. The sound from kids playing faded into the busy work of the adult student world. Cheers and fun replaced by talks of deadlines, world events I'd rather not think about. My stomach getting tighter, my breath getting heavier. I walk through the crowd at an increased speed. Eventually in the overwhelming crowd I stop right in the middle of it. Two grown men talking with one of them holding a young girls hand. "Yeah so cause she made such cool art I thought Id take her to the old water park in the city, get in some dad daughter time y'know" the man yelled out proudly. The other man looks to the young girl smiling. "That sounds fantastic! Be sure to ride the wave crasher, that slide was always my fave as a kid" the man explains. The young girls father begins gesturing he has to go and goodbyes are given. The dad walks into the crowds in the distance and the young girl skipped alongside him. She held a cute bear plushie. Her dress was pink and sparkly accompanied with what seemed to be ballet flats. Her orange hair swayed in the wind.