Bound by Moonlight

First Day of School

Avery stared up at the ceiling, trying to sort through her thoughts, but as always—too many questions, too few answers. The journey here, the move, all of it had been a blur of unfamiliar sights. But today was the day it all began, and she knew she had to prepare for school. Why they were really here, why her parents made this move—those questions kept swirling in her mind, but there was never a moment when she got any answers.

She glanced at the clock. It was already 11 PM. "I should be sleeping," she thought, yawning and pulling the covers over her head. But sleep didn’t come easily. Thoughts about the new school, the new town, what she could expect—it kept her up. Eventually, she gave up and closed her eyes, hoping for at least some rest.

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When the morning light cast grey shadows over the horizon, Avery woke with a jolt. It was already 6:30 AM—just enough time to get ready. Her first day at school. A new beginning. She groggily pushed herself out of bed, stretched, and switched into "I-have-to-function" mode. "I can do this," she whispered to herself.

She walked over to the bathroom, where she quickly put on a bit of makeup—just a light foundation and some mascara to feel a little more awake and ready. Afterward, she picked out her outfit: a long beige winter coat, matching brown scarf, and brown ear muffs. She felt more at ease in the cold, and the snow outside had blanketed everything in a thick, icy grip. She grabbed her black backpack and rushed down the stairs, already running late.

"Good morning, Avery!" her mom called from the kitchen, but Avery barely had time to respond before she was at the bottom of the stairs. She grabbed a granola bar from the counter, ignoring her parents' suggestion to eat a proper breakfast. Avery was never much of a breakfast person. "I'll be fine," she thought as she grabbed something to eat.

Her dad was already standing by the door, pulling on his jacket and giving her mom a quick kiss on the forehead. "Morning, kiddo. Ready for your first day?" he asked with a smile.

"Guess so..." Avery shrugged while hurriedly pulling on her boots. She could hardly wait for the day to start—but at the same time, she knew she would miss the sunny days. Everything here felt so foreign, and somehow that was a little frightening.

"You’ll be fine," her dad said reassuringly as they headed out the door together.

Outside, the cold hit Avery immediately. Snow was piled high on the rooftops, and she could see her breath in the frosty air. She loved it. The snow was beautiful, and for a moment, she felt a strange sense of calm. She glanced to her left and saw Ailee walking out of her house. Ailee wore a long black coat, a dark grey scarf, and black boots. Her hair was shiny and neatly styled, and she wore a light touch of makeup as well—just enough to add a bit of polish to her look. Avery couldn’t help but feel a little more excited than usual. She loved the snow and felt more at home in the cold, but she knew Ailee wasn't as thrilled about it. Ailee was more excited about the newness of everything, the change.

Ailee met her by the door, and they both climbed into the car. Avery slid into the back seat while Ailee sat next to her, both of them watching as their dad started the engine.

"Let’s go," Avery muttered to herself.

Her first day at a new school. What should she expect? Who would she meet? Would it be just as different as everything else here?

Avery let the thought go and tried to relax. It was just one day. Just one first step.