RUN, RUN, RUN. Pitch black. It's cold. Stop. Take two steps, cold. Open your eyes, open them, cold. Three steps, colder, stop. Open your eyes, wake up, WAKE UP. The eyes force themselves open, Riah wakes up in her studio, grey, struggling for her breath, panting, trying to avoid waking her chocolate brown puppy up next to her. She places her hand on her chest, attempting to calm herself down. Moments pass, and the room is silent, she lifts her duvet.
She grumbles, "It's always the same dream, will it ever end?" while rising frustrated as if challenging her thoughts. "Pull yourself together, Riah, breaks don't just come to you," she mutters, adjusting the bed a bit and rousing her dog Tola. She pets her dog as if it were her child and makes her way to the bathroom with her furry companion by her side, she looks in the mirror. Disgusted, although she possessed the true essence of beauty, her eyes shimmered with a captivating shade of golden brown, while her lips boasted a natural, nudeish pink plumpness. The perfection of her nose was unparalleled, and her long brown hair cascaded down her back, adding to her overall allure. She brushes off her emotions smiles at her dog, and proceeds to brush her teeth. She'd prepare herself for school, her uniform slightly tattered but not dirty. She had on a knee-length grey skirt paired with white knee-length socks and simple black and white sneakers. Her outfit was completed with a white polo shirt, a black tie with green stripes, and a grey blazer. Exiting the bathroom Riah tucked in her silver necklace with a heart pendant, with ilegable engravings. Stuffing a yellow polo and black trousers into her cheap worn-out bag she'd head to the counter and pour some dog food in a bowl, and water in another, she rubbed and stroked her belly before leaving her studio. 'Bye Tola I'll be back soon!" she shouted as she shut the door wiping the smile off her face.
6:57 am "The sun's out, is it? Ah, sunrise," she thought to herself looking down at the snow as she made her way down the alleyway, she began to count her very few notes and coins, whiling away the time. "7 dollars 63 cents" huffing she'd stuff the money into her blazer pocket with her head held low, picking up her pace.
As the first rays of sunlight painted the sky, she made her way to school, arriving before anyone else. This was a routine for her, and the school's security was well aware of it. Swiftly flashing her ID to the man in black, she pulled up her jacket hood, hoping to blend into the background. Fail.
"Rayaaa!" a girl with dramatic eyeliner screeched. Paige.
"She won't even say it right" irritated Riah thought. However, she had no time to think. Panic.
"Raya, My friend" she laughs along with her clique.
"You promised I would get my money today, I hope you weren't lying to me," she said with a false pitiful expression.
"No, No- I" She choked on her words reaching into her blazer pocket and fumbling for a five dollar note. Handing it to her.
"This is all...Thank you! I'll let you off this time, I'm sure you'll bring the rest tomorrow. I trust you" Paige chuckled coyly making a corrupt heart with her hands. Riah felt a wave of shame wash over her, her fist clenched tightly as a tear escaped down her cheek. "You don't deserve to cry, Riah, you just don't," she whispered to herself as she made her way into the main building of the school, 'Cera Hub', on a cold winter morning.
