ADORA (raving lunatic)

Chapter 1: Whispers of Memory

The soft glow of the morning sun seeped through Adora's bedroom window as she prepared for her first day of her second year in college

She had always been the early riser in her family, a trait she had carried with her since childhood.

Her room was adorned with plain decorations, and its eeriness hung in the air, as if it held secrets known only to her.

Downstairs in the cozy kitchen, her two younger sisters and her mother appeared to sit around the table, but their presence was a ghostly echo from the past.

Adora couldn't help but smile as she observed the heartwarming scene in her mind's eye.

Her family's laughter and chatter filled the room, creating a sense of warmth and belonging.

"Adora, darling, won't you join us for breakfast?" her mother's phantom voice called out, gesturing to the empty chair at the table.

Adora hesitated, a mixture of guilt and urgency in her heart.

"I wish I could, Mom, but I'm running late for my first day of classes. I'll catch something quick on the way."

Her mother and sisters nodded in understanding, existing only as distant memories in her mind.

Adora swiftly made her way to the bathroom, her thoughts racing as she prepared for the day ahead.

She quickly donned her crisp college uniform and grabbed her backpack, ensuring she had all her notes and textbooks.

As she rushed downstairs, she opened the refrigerator to retrieve a small container of snacks she had bought a week ago.

These snacks were her lifeline during busy days, providing a moment of solace amidst the chaos of college life.

With her snacks in hand, Adora exchanged hurried goodbyes with the apparitions of her family and darted out the front door.

She knew she was late, but she couldn't help but steal a longing glance at the empty spaces where her family once stood, a sense of comfort in their lingering presence.

Arriving at the college campus, Adora felt a mix of excitement and trepidation.

It was her second year, yet she still hadn't managed to make any lasting friends.

She was friendly enough, engaging in brief conversations when approached, but she had always been cautious about revealing too much about herself.

Finding solace in her familiar bench beneath the massive oak tree, she sat down and opened her snacks.

The campus buzzed with students reconnecting after the break, forming new friendships,

and Adora couldn't help but feel like an outsider, a silent observer of the vibrant world around her.

As she nibbled on her snacks, she couldn't shake the nagging feeling that this year might be different, 

Adora had always been drawn to the serene beauty of her college campus, nestled among towering trees and historic buildings.

It was a place where she had hoped to find solace amidst her inner turmoil,

a sanctuary to escape the haunting secrets that resided within her.

On a crisp autumn morning, Adora sat on a bench beneath the shade of a massive oak tree, her books spread out in front of her.

She wore her customary gentle smile, the façade that she had mastered over the years.

Students bustled around her, chatting and laughing as they passed by, oblivious to the storm that raged within her mind.

As she read her textbook, she noticed a young man watching her from a distance.