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𝗦𝗘𝗣𝗧𝗘𝗠𝗕𝗘𝗥, 𝟮𝟬𝟬𝟬
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... marlene whyte loved the cold. or maybe she was simply desensitized to it, living in england and all. but nothing made her happier than to wrap up in an abundance of silly scarfs and hats, layering a number of her favorite jackets and sweaters, pairing each outfit with her favorite pair of doc martins; scuffed and done for sure, but her favorite nonetheless. they stayed with her all year round, the poor old things never getting a break. and she wore them today, having that last bit of familiarity as she walked into a world of unknown possibilities.
the monday morning was quiet, only a few eager birds chirping from their trees and dancing down from branch to branch, a few auburn-colored foliages fluttering down in their wake. a soft yellow hue radiated from the surrounding lamposts, that being marlene's only true source of light and guidance as the sun had barely peaked over the horizon.
perhaps she should've been more nervous, it was her first day of high school, after all. but she couldn't help but be simply not bothered. it was quarter past seven in the morning and she couldn't bring herself to care about anything other than her destination. her face was swollen and pink with the crisp fresh air and the wind ruffled her hair every so often, letting a few loose strands fall from her rushed ponytail and into her eyes.
she kept her eyes glued to the cobblestones beneath her, watching her foggy breath cloud her vision with every rise and fall of her chest. marlene sniffed, adjusting her jacket more securely around herself, burrowing her face into the collar. highgreen was small enough to the point where nearly nobody bothered with taking the bus; everything was within a 10 minute or so walk away, meaning that was the main source of travel.
her mother and father had bombarded her at the door before marlene had the chance to leave, making sure to take hundreds of pictures, all with the same lighting, pose, and facial expression in them. with the reason that "it was important to remember days like these,".
marlene rounded the corner, turning down the street her best friend rory lived down. she reached her house and opened the mailbox, peering inside and retrieving a few small envelopes, tucking them in the waistband of her skirt. marlene took hold of the mailbox again, using it to hoist herself over the small brick wall fencing in the house's lawn and front porch. she landed softly on the other side, the bag on her back clanging with the sound of stationery.
without bothering to knock, knowing she didn't need to, marlene opened the crimson front door, closing it quietly behind her as she placed the letters on the coffee table. Rory's mother, Jane, peered from the kitchen's doorframe, her hands still in the sink as she washed them. she was smiling too bright and chipper for such an early time in the morning. that's what marlene admired about her; there wasn't a day too cold or too tiring for her; she was pleasant no matter the occasion.
