CSI San Antonio

14

They arrived at the design room, a space filled with sewing machines, rolls of fabric, and mannequins posed as if waiting for inspiration to strike. Samantha’s excitement bubbled over as she took in the sights, feeling a surge of creative energy. Her eyes widened with wonder, her fingers itching to reach for the fabric and start creating.

“Well, I guess that’s it,” Dylan said as they made their way toward the exit. Samantha’s mom, Victoria, was already waiting for her in the car, waving from a distance.

“Do you know how you’re getting to school tomorrow?” Dylan asked, a touch of genuine concern in his voice. “Will your mom give you a ride, or are you taking the bus?”

Samantha’s smile faltered a bit. “My mom has to work early, so I’ll be taking the 422 bus,” she replied, a hint of disappointment in her tone.

Dylan’s face brightened with relief. “Hey, I take that bus too! What time do you think you’ll be at the stop?”

Samantha hesitated, glancing away. “I’m not sure how long it takes from my place,” she admitted, feeling a bit unsure.

“Where do you live?” he asked gently, sensing her uncertainty. Samantha gave him her address, and he nodded thoughtfully. “That’s about half an hour from here. If you get to the stop around seven-fifteen or seven-twenty, you should be just fine.”

Samantha felt a wave of relief. “Then I’ll aim for that time,” she said, her confidence building with his reassurance.

Dylan smiled. “Perfect. I’ll be on the same bus. We’ll have each other’s backs.” He held out his hand in a friendly gesture. “See you tomorrow.”

As she took his hand to shake it, a small, pleasant shiver ran through her, catching her off guard. “See you tomorrow,” she replied, her voice soft and her heart unexpectedly light.

As she walked towards the car, she couldn’t help but glance back, catching Dylan’s warm smile as he watched her go. Her heart felt a little fuller than it had all day.

In the car, Victoria noticed the glow on her daughter’s face and felt a surge of happiness herself.
“So, what do you think of the school?” she asked eagerly as they pulled away.

Samantha’s eyes sparkled as she recounted, “It’s amazing! They have a huge swimming pool and gymnasium. And the design room is enormous and fully equipped!”
She couldn’t contain her excitement, and for the first time, her mother saw a twinkle in her daughter’s eyes that filled her with hope.

Victoria’s voice softened with anticipation. “So… does that mean you want to stay here?”

Samantha’s face broke into a bright smile. “Yes,” she replied, the decision was clear in her heart.

Victoria grinned. “That’s wonderful! Let’s stop by the store to grab the essentials for school and figure out your bus pass. We can even look into a pass for the whole year so you don’t have to rely on me if work gets busy.”

“Sounds perfect,” Samantha agreed, her enthusiasm contagious.

At the store, they strolled through the aisles, choosing school supplies together. They picked out black and blue pens, a few red and green ones, several large A4 notebooks, sketchbooks, and a good supply of pencils, knowing how often Samantha loved to sketch. They added a pool bag, a new swimsuit, a swimming cap, and some sewing supplies—just in case she needed her own. Victoria even made a mental note to buy her daughter a sewing machine next month. She wanted Samantha to have every chance to grow her passions.

As they packed up their bags, Victoria looked at her daughter with pride and excitement. It was clear that a new chapter was beginning, and both of them felt the promise it held.