Caesonia

A New life

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Ivory Pov

The years following Mom's disappearance were a foggy haze of confusion and a painful heartache. Aunt Clara and Uncle Martin tried their best to make me feel at home, but nothing could replace the warmth of Mom's presence. Their house was different from ours—bigger, quieter, and more organized. It felt foreign, and I often found myself yearning for the familiar chaos of home. The way I would almost certainly would late for the bus or school. The way she always smile even if the world was ending.

Aunt Clara was a sweet woman, always bustling about with an air of efficiency. She had short, curly hair and a kind smile that never quite reached her eyes. Uncle Martin was more reserved, his salt-and-pepper hair neatly combed, and his demeanor always calm and collected. They didn't have any children, and their house was filled with the quiet of two people who had long ago settled into their routines. I always founded it weird when she was more excited to take me in before even asking about my mom. I was just glad someone would want me during that time.

They had welcomed me with open arms, trying to ease my transition. Aunt Clara had prepared a special dinner for my first night, cooking all of my favorite dishes. She served spaghetti with meatballs, garlic bread, and a rich chocolate cake for dessert. I appreciated her efforts, but every bite tasted like ash. The emptiness in my chest made it hard to enjoy anything.

My new room was at the end of the hallway, a small space with pale blue walls and white furniture. It was neat and tidy, a stark contrast to the vibrant chaos of my room back home. I unpacked my belongings slowly, placing them carefully around the room. Each item felt like a piece of my old life, a life that seemed to be slipping further away with each passing day.

I tried to adjust to my new life, but it was hard. Every corner of their house reminded me that I was alone. I missed the sound of Mom's laughter, the smell of her cooking, and the way she always knew how to make everything better. The nights were the worst. I would lie in bed, clutching the note she had left me, and cry myself to sleep, wondering where she was and why she had left.

School was no better. My classmates' whispers and curious glances followed me everywhere. I avoided their questions, keeping to myself during lunch and recess. I didn't want to talk about Mom or her disappearance. It was too painful, too confusing.

One day, as I sat alone under a tree during lunch because Blake said he would be out the rest of the month because he caught a terrible sickness, I  quickly noticed a girl approaching me. She was tall and athletic like Blake, with a friendly smile that made me feel at ease.

"Hey, mind if I sit here?" she asked, holding her lunch tray.

I shrugged, not really caring. "Sure, I guess."

She sat down, her presence somehow comforting. "I'm Tanith. I just moved here. What's your name?"

"Ivory," I replied quietly, not looking up from my sandwich.

She didn't seem to mind my lack of enthusiasm. "Nice to meet you, Ivory. Why are you sitting all alone?"

I sighed, feeling a lump form in my throat. "I don't really have any friends here. Well, I do have one his name is Blake‚ but he is really sick 

"Well, now you do," she said with a grin. "Mind if I sit with you and again tomorrow?"

Something in her eyes made me believe her. "Okay," I said, a small smile tugging at the corners of my lips.

Tanith kept her promise. Every day, she sat with me and at lunch, sharing stories about her old school and her dreams of becoming an athlete. She reminds me of Blake a lot, so it made easy to have a conversation. Slowly, I began to open up, telling her bits and pieces of my own story.