𝙨𝙖𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙣'𝙨 𝙨𝙪𝙣

𝒐𝒏𝒆

Saturn
• • •

I existed too vividly sometimes; it hurt.

As I stepped onto campus for the first time, I could feel the painful gaze of many. Although I was only one of many international students at Kenton, I still assumed that I stood out like a sore thumb.  With a name like mine, it was difficult not to stand out. At my old school, I had gained a reputation for being odd. I could tell that things would be no different at Kenton.

I strolled down the stone pathways that looped through the campus grounds, ignoring the cupped whispers and shifty glances. "Why would you want to go to a school named after an old white man?" Regina had asked me before my departure. Kenton's campus was what had drawn me in, with its castle-like exterior, quaint neighbouring village, and libraries with more books than I could read in my lifetime. The environment of fierce academia would surely help me thrive. Here, I would not miss home.

I had no home to miss.

I fumbled with the key to my new room, swallowing down the pain of being noticeable. There was no one else in the corridor with me, but I could still feel ghostly eyes piercing my skin. I shoved the key into the lock, and for a moment, I thought I might have the wrong room number. I had never been good with doors, I reminded myself.

When the lock clicked at last, I grinned. "Pretty," I whispered, seeing my home for the very first time. To a normal human, the dorm would be anything but pretty. But to me, I did not see dullness, I saw potential. It was quiet, plain, with plenty of room to grow. I would be able to transform it into something quite pretty indeed.

I tiptoed across the creaking floorboards to assess the view from the singular arched window on the far side of the room. I was somewhere between the ground and the penthouse, and had the perfect view of the southmost building. Now this was pretty.

As I studied the very sparse elements of the dorm, I realized it wasn't much different from my previous residence. I had lived in an old, old house for the entirety of my childhood. The house was assessed after my mother's passing, and was ruled unsuitable to live in. It had been unsuitable for many years before. I hadn't noticed. I had never known anything else. I was used to the bare minimum, so this dismal dorm was the least of my concern. Like me, it just needed time to reach its potential.

I dumped my luggage into a messy heap. I had managed to pack away the contents of my life into one suitcase, with the exception of my false leather carry-on, which held my books. My books were my most prized possessions, I would never dump them onto the floor. I could have filled another suitcase with my entire collection, but my grandmother forbade it.

As I studied the pile of things, I noticed the pet carrier I had neglected until that moment. "Nova, how rude of me," I murmured, pulling her change toward me with care. I unlatched the close, releasing my beautiful black cat. She curled herself around my legs, purring. Nova was like a sister to me, and at Kenton, she was my only friend too. I allowed her to roam, and become familiar with her new home.

I put in my earbuds and got to work on transforming the room. I sorted the heap into piles of clothes, accessories, and memories. I jumped as my music was disturbed by a painful ringing. Regina was calling.

"Saturn." She said my name with force.

"Hi," I replied plainly. I didn't feel like talking much. Regina was the only thing I had to miss back home, and hearing her voice would surely not help.

We only spoke for a few minutes before Regina became bored of my vacant replies. She wanted to know how I liked the airplane. I told her I hadn't liked it one bit. She asked about my dorm. I was too busy decorating to describe it. I wasn't trying to be rude, I was simply preoccupied. I had just moved across the world, I needed time to settle.

I skipped dinner that night, avoiding the chaos of the Kenton dining hall that I knew I would inevitably have to face the next morning. I'd never noticed people staring at me back at home, but perhaps I didn't have the privilege of blending in as much in this entirely new world.

By the time the moon replaced the sun, my room felt a little more like home. I sat down on the bed, glancing around at my masterpiece. It was crazy what a new bedspread, a few posters, books, and a moon lamp could do to a space.

I glanced down at Nova's cage, which was the only thing I'd failed to find a home for. I would have to find her a bed somewhere. For now, she could sleep with me, which she much preferred anyway. I surveyed the room, searching for her movement.

That was odd. I didn't see Nova anywhere.

Damn it. I had cracked open the door earlier to see if anyone wished to meet me. No one did. Perhaps that was for the best. But now, my only friend had escaped, and I could not hide any longer.

I tiptoed out into the dark corridor, scanning it for Nova. Searching for a black cat within the shadows proved to be a difficult task. I sighed. I would have to ask around.
I took a sharp breath, then turned to the first door I saw. Room number five. I knocked three times, praying that I wasn't waking the inhibitor.

The door swung open, revealing a kind-looking girl, holding none other than my cat. I knew Nova wouldn't go far.

"Hi," I said softly, "you found my cat." Nova's purplish eyes peered up at me with guilt.

"This is your cat?" the girl asked, "well that's too bad. I was hoping to keep her for a while."

I smiled, praying that the girl was joking. She didn't look like a cat stealer, but her soft exterior could have been misleading.

The girl passed Nova to me. "You're not from here, are you?" she mused.

"No," I replied, still feeling shy and exposed standing in the dark corridor. This girl was very pretty; blonde, with bright blue eyes, and perfect teeth. I assumed she was popular. Why was she bothering to get to know me?

"I saw you in the courtyard earlier," She mentioned, "I could tell you were international."

"What gave me away?" I asked, worrying that I might have appeared too out of place.

"Perhaps it was the Canadian flag on your suitcase," the girl chuckled. I sighed. That made sense.

"I'm Liana," she said, holding out a polite hand.

"Saturn," I shook it, not used to receiving such gestures back at home.

"Saturn?" Liana played with my name, "how interesting. I've never met someone named Saturn before."

"I've never met someone named Liana before," I replied. Liana laughed as if I'd said something that was meant to be funny. Perhaps I was being too blunt.

"Well, I'm glad we're neighbours, Saturn," Liana said, "one, because I'd like to befriend your cat, two, because I'd like to befriend you."

I smiled. Liana made me feel less alone. "Would you like to come in?" she asked.

"I was hoping to go to bed," I said, "but maybe I'll see you tomorrow?"

"I'll come and get you for breakfast," Liana said, "how does that sound?"

"Perfect," I said, "thanks for finding my cat."

Liana smirked. "Sleep well," she said.

I bid her goodnight, then re-entered the corridor. I couldn't help but feel like I'd achieved the impossible. It wasn't even my first day yet, and I'd already managed to make a friend at Kenton.

Falling asleep in my dormitory would be next to impossible. New spaces were difficult for me, and a new bedroom across the world was certainly no exception. It didn't matter how comfortable my bed was, or how Nova slept next to me purring to comfort me. Nothing would change the fact that I was starting at a brand new school tomorrow, with new people, and an entirely new life.

Kenton University would change everything.