Hearts of Grief (CaitVi)

I

My mother never liked when I misbehaved. "Stop acting like a misfit, Caitlyn." was a sentence I heard over and over again after every single thing I did that she didn't approve of.

If I didn't dress to her standards, if I didn't eat the way she wanted me to, or act the way she wanted me to, the list goes on.

What she never realized was that as the stricter she got as I grew older, the more it made me rebel. Be the misfit she hated deeply.

A perfect image was the only thing she ever cared about. Even though I didn't like it, some things have stuck with me even when I haven't heard her scold me in the last 6 years.

I looked at myself in the mirror, reflecting on my perfectly tied up bun. The clothes on my body not showing a single wrinkle or stain. My skin without a blemish or scar in sight. Nails perfectly long and healthy.

I sighed deeply as I lowered my eyes to look at the bathroom sink and washed my hands thoroughly before drying them and heading to my classroom to finish making the gift bags for the University of Piltover's Orientation Festival.

I'm a professor and the club leader for "Women in Engineering". It's been three years since I was hired here and when I started the club. I love my job. Helping people is my passion.

For as long as I can remember, that's all I wanted to do. Make the world a better place, contribute to my community, help those in need, make a difference.

The Orientation Festival was a tradition that the school made to welcome all returning and new students as well as their families with food, activities, games and an opportunity for the students to look into clubs/sports for them to join.

These little festivals are my favorite events to be a part of. Seeing the students with their families while they have fun and get to know more people, enjoying all the food and how bright their eyes glow with joy.

I walked in the classroom, immediately confused from the door already being unlocked and wide open, then seeing the small-framed girl with long, braided blue hair and a long side bang. She had her spikey black headphones over her ears, listening to her music as she bobbed her head and doodled away with all her markers scattered around the table.

Powder, she's been a club member since last year when she was a freshman. Compared to the other five club members, Powder has always been the one most engaged and present in the club, even when we don't have club meetings.

Hence, why she's in the classroom before I could have a chance to unlock the door with my key and open it. Powder is a very creative and intelligent girl. Extremely energetic, bubbly, and incredibly sarcastic; Her extroverted personality is what made her so charming.

Assuming she felt my presence behind her, she looked over and gave me her infamous, mischievous toothy smile and rested her headphones on her shoulders. "Heeeyyyy Caitlyn, I'm almost done with the recruitment posters. They're looking pretty badass if I do say so myself hehe."

I walked over to the table she was working at and smiled at her posters. The neon colors she chose bounced off the black posters perfectly. 'Join Our Club' was written in neon pink with a drawing of a mechanical shark on top. 'Club meetings every Monday and Wednesday from 4 PM to 6 PM!' in neon green with a mechanical monkey on the left side. 'Powerful Women UNITE' was lastly in neon blue with several gears drawn on the right side and several other drawings of bolts and screws scattered around the blank areas of the poster in neon yellow.

"I love them. They look amazing, Powder!" I placed my hand on the top of her head as a sign of approval. She grinned proudly and did some finishing touches with a white marker. "Thank you! I can't wait for the festival on Monday, I'm ready to eat all the food and see who joins the club!" She said eagerly as she hopped in place, almost bouncing off into the ceiling. "Oh! and my sister finally comes back~! I can't wait to see her, it's been so long! I wonder how she looks like now, I hope she still remembers me."