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The kitchen was warm and quiet, the gentle hum of the refrigerator filling the silence as I stood there, absently opening cupboards and trying to decide what to eat. The evening sunlight streamed through the window, casting a cozy glow over the room. Just as I was reaching for a bag of chips, Dad walked in, his footsteps soft against the tile.
"Thinking about dinner already?" He asked, a small smile on his face as he watched me scan the cabinets.
I shrugged, laughing lightly. "More like... trying to figure out what I feel like eating." Dad chuckled and leaned against the counter, crossing his arms, "It's strange to think that you and your sister are already sophomores. Feels like just yesterday you two were heading off for your first day of kindergarten."
"Yeah, time flies," I said, giving a little smile. "Today was good. Initially, I felt like I'd feel more out of place but turns out I was just overthinking. We met some... interesting people. I believe we could be friends in coming days... or not, I don't know. But overall, it was nice." I trailed off with a confused smile.
"It'll get better with time." Dad said, giving me a reassuring look and then, as if he'd just remembered something, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a folded piece of paper. "Actually, I wanted to talk to you about something," he said, handing me the paper. "Here, take a look."
I unfolded it and skimmed over the words at the top. "Volunteer form? Beacon Hills Memorial Hospital?" He nodded, his face soft but serious. "It's a long-term care home they have there. They're looking for volunteers to help with activities and just spend time with the residents."
I looked back at the form, reading through the details. "I didn't know a sophomore could volunteer at a place like this."
"Well," he began, "it's not common, but they're making an exception because they're a bit short-staffed. And I think it would be good for you. Not just for experience, but... for you."
"For me?" I echoed, meeting his gaze.
"Moving here hasn't been easy, I know that. I thought maybe, if you had something like this, it might help keep your mind off all the changes." He explained.
I considered his words, the idea of spending time with people at the hospital lingering in my mind. "But... do you think it'll really help? I mean, it sounds like a big responsibility."
