A Rainy Day's Sunshine

The Gloomy Westwood

Walking on the cold stone path littered with dried-up fall leaves, keeping my head down and trying not to draw any sort of attention to myself. - Was not a great way to be spending my first day at college.

Then again, I've always done this. At least, as long as I can remember...

Seeing the little puddles of water from yesterday's storm ripple and distort at the lightest movement of my shoes was a good distraction from the dread that came with back to school, but I knew I'd have to face it sooner or later.

I walked and walked and walked, my new school was quite a way away from my family's small house on the hills, overlooking a gloomy garden full of varying colors of stargazer flowers.

I knew I'd soon enter the bustling entrance of Westwood College, full of eager souls wandering around with their various friend groups, and even though it would mean the long walk was over, I wasn't looking forward to it.

After a while of thinking to myself about the many possibilities this school year could bring, I came to a stop at an oak wood gate, mounted onto a smooth stone wall with a few ferns and vines growing on it.

Well, it's now or never.

I pushed open the gate, and surprisingly, with a creak and the sound of old rusted gears being turned, it swung open with little to no force on my end. 

Light flooded into the otherwise dull streets of Westwood, and the stores that always looked a bit abandoned and forgotten found new life in the gleam of the school's crowded central ground.

It was so different from the Westwood I knew, so foreign, so.. alive.

I flinched, covering my eyes with my arm, not used to the lively light of a place so full of life, but after a bit, my eyes adjusted and I could see clearly the muted colors of hats, scarves, and clothes.

Students rushed around hurriedly with half-hearted "excuse me" and "sorry!"'s, trying to find their classes in the unfamiliar urban landscape.

The marble columns of the college shone brightly in the spring sun, reflecting brilliantly the pride of the headmasters and teachers who devoted their lives to the care of Westwood College.

Faces of grinning strangers lit up the place, further complimenting the flourishing life that was so scarcely found in our little town.

I took a deep breath, taking in all the experiences to be, all the ups and downs, and all the people I might meet who will surely leave me in awe.

This was all very overwhelming. 

I held my breath and stepped into the school center, the ground engraved with unique symbols, some of mathematical origin, and some random doodles ranging from stars, hearts, circles, and more.

I looked around in awe, all the people looks so interesting, so full of life...

I was home.