THE GIRL LOST IN THE STARS

AURORA

A few years ago, in an obscure town, resided a young girl by the name of Aurora. She was the youngest of eight siblings, having seven brothers wasn't that easy. Little did she know that her innocence would be impacted by a rare disease, thus commencing her arduous journey.

"Aurora!" A familiar voice bellowed from downstairs. "Turn off your alarm, for heaven's sake!"

It was a chilly morning, the girl's favorite song from her preferred band blared from her alarm, signaling the start of a new day. "Get up and go to work! I can't deal with this girl Laurel; I've always told you she's peculiar and lives in her own world," a voice from downstairs grumbled.

The girl slowly opened her eyes, as she did every morning, turned off her alarm, and muttered to herself, "Goodness gracious." She rubbed her eyes with her hand as she sat up in bed, and at the foot of her bed lay her beloved cat, Mr. Nibbles. She rose from bed, her bare feet padding along the floor.

She strode to her closet and selected her attire for the day. Despite never being a fashion maven, she chose a delicate floral dress that was modestly cut, concealing her innocence with its daisy pattern. A hint of vanilla perfume wafted from her neck, adding a subtle touch of fragrance.

Before descending the staircase, she gathered her cherished possessions, including her personal CD player and a few books. As with every morning, her parents engaged in a heated argument, prompting her to intervene and defuse the situation.

As she descended the stairs, she inadvertently collided with three of her brothers: Bradley, Joshua, and Kai. "Watch where you're going, you fool," Bradley grumbled at the girl.

She hastened to the kitchen without uttering a word and bid her mother farewell after snatching her customary muffin. Her father sat in the kitchen, holding a newspaper and exhaling cigarette smoke, muttering indistinctly. In her hurry, she grabbed her bag and headed for the door.

Her rusty bike rested against the garage door as she mounted it and set off to work. It was a beautiful day, and everyone in the town recognized her. As she pedaled to work, many people waved at her. Nothing ever seemed to change in the forgotten little town. Just like every morning, Mr. Parker strolled with his dog, and Mrs. Jackson tended to her flowers. Aurora scanned the area, relishing the fresh breeze against her face. She stretched out her arms, savoring the sensation of freedom for a few moments until she realized how late she was. She hastened her pace and finally arrived at her workplace, a small cafeteria. She leaned her bike against the wall and entered the establishment, where her best friend Naomi was already working.

"Forgive me, please. I promise to make it up to you," Aurora said as she donned her work clothes. Naomi, a diminutive brunette, was like the sister Aurora never had, and the moment she saw her, she knew that everything would be alright.

Naomi immediately followed the girl as she exclaimed, "Are you out of your mind? Do you want to get fired? Where the hell were you?" Aurora walked towards her friend as she headed to the back to change. "Not James again, Aurora! He's a despicable person, can't you see that?" her best friend added.

Aurora raised her eyes and bit her lower lip. "He's not a jerk," she added, but before she realized it, her friend responded to her affirmation. "Damn it, you're so gullible," she said, slapping Aurora's shoulder.

Suddenly, a young male voice shouted from the front, "Hello, is anyone working here?"

It was Freddie, a tall, blonde and highly regarded individual who held the esteemed position of rugby captain and was well-known throughout the city.

"You go. I can't stand him and his blue eyes," the friend remarked while rolling her eyes. The girls engaged in a brief argument before Naomi pushed Aurora out from the back. The young lady had no other choice but to face Freddie.

"Good day. I am pleased to see that someone is working here. Thank goodness, as I am feeling quite famished," Freddie exclaimed upon entering.

Aurora, although inwardly cursing her friend, maintained a fake smile and looked back every now and then to see that her friend was spying on them from the glass window.

"Yes, my apologies for that. What can I assist you with?" Aurora inquired.

"I require a strong coffee and a pancake to accompany it, if you would be so kind," Freddie requested as he took a seat on the bar stool in front of her.

"Coming right up," Aurora replied while beginning to prepare his order.

"I am curious, why have we never conversed before? Do you perhaps attend Nashville Highschool as well?" Freddie asked, attempting to engage her in conversation.

"Me? No, I do not attend school. Let us just say that I do not" Aurora grinned while placing the items he had requested on the counter.

"Oh...my apologies. I didn't realize you were of that age," the young man said jokingly.

Aurora placed her hand on her hip and clicked her tongue at the absurd remark the young man had made. "Yes, because that's the only reason in the world why I wouldn't attend school," she retorted.

"Hey, relax. I was only joking. There's no need to get worked up about it," the young man laughed.

After finishing his meal, he left a bill on the counter. "It was a pleasure meeting you. By the way, what is your name again?" he asked.

"Aurora. Wait, I haven't even told you my name," the girl said, confused.

"Now you have," the young man smirked, extending his hand. "I'm Freddie. It was a pleasure meeting you, Aurora. I must admit that your coffee blend was excellent. I may come back more often," he said as he walked backwards.

"It's just a simple brew. There's nothing special about it," she replied.

As the young man's back hit the door behind him, he whispered, "You make it special," before opening the door and walking out.

Aurora found herself in a state of disbelief as she stood still, unable to fathom the recent occurrence. It was beyond her comprehension that someone as esteemed as Freddie would bestow their attention upon her. Her ruminations were abruptly interrupted by a vociferous exclamation emanating from the rear. Her closest friend had arrived on the scene and was eager to glean every detail of the event.

Notably, Aurora's countenance had undergone a transformation, and a different type of smile had replaced her previous expression. Her gaze was now fixated on the entrance, and she seemed to be lost in thought. When prompted by her friend, Aurora replied with a nonchalant statement, suggesting that it was merely a serendipitous encounter between two strangers.

Throughout the morning, Aurora's smile remained a prominent feature. She would frequently bite her lip and cast furtive glances towards the entrance, as if expecting someone to appear.