Delanna

3

The room has no windows. Only a single yellow lightbulb, which flickers every few seconds. The walls have been painted a cream colour and there are two single beds, that just fit in the small space.

Delanna puts her suitcase gently down on the bed, afraid it might break. When it doesn't, Delanna takes the opportunity to let her weary knees give way and collapses onto the bed, groaning when she realises that the mattress was not as soft as she though it would be.

¨It's lunch soon, so don't sleep just yet.¨ Says Lily.

¨Kay.¨ Delanna replies.

She really wants to sleep. Delanna doesn't feel hungry for lunch, but she's scared of being punished by Miss Hecklar. That woman has issues. Delanna thinks. Although she wants to lie down, she opens her luggage to find her father's glasses. As she hoped, they were right there, nestled in between her clothes.

¨You wear glasses?¨ Lily inquires.

¨No. They were my papa's.¨ Delanna answers.

¨Oh.¨

They sit in silence for a few moments before a shrill, ear-piercing bell rings.

¨Lunch.¨ Lily exclaims. She appears to know what she's doing.

Delanna follows her roommate out their door and down the hallway, where numerous students are also emerging from their rooms. Other women that she doesn't know line the corridors eying up each student. Delanna doesn't notice any male teachers. Maybe there aren't any. She thinks.

All the students, boys and girls, file towards another set of large double doors, which are opened by to women dressed in navy pinstripe suits. Miss Hecklar emerges from those doors, and as she does so, all the students stop moving. It's as if they all, including Delanna, have been frozen by the woman's icy glare.

¨Does anyone need reminding of our lunchroom rules?¨ She asks, addressing all the students. They shake their heads solemnly.

¨Good.¨ Miss Hecklar says. ¨I expect you all to know by now that's for sure. Apart from Ms. Hays of course.¨ She seems to emphasize the Hays because all heads turn to look at Delanna. She's not too hard to spot; apparently, the orphanage has no uniforms in Delanna's size, so the 15-year-old has to wear her regular clothing for the time being.

¨Come in then.¨ The old woman yells. Her five chins bouncing as she does. The students start moving again. Delanna blends into the crowd and they all file through the doors.

The dining space is a ginormous version of her bedroom, except for the beds. Instead of the one flickering lightbulb, the ceiling is home to two lovely diamond chandeliers. Delanna walks along the dark oak floors toward one of the tables, which is nearly the length of the room itself. There are three more of these wooden tables.

Lily comes up behind Delanna and says;

¨Sit with me, unless you want to sit somewhere else?¨

Delanna shakes her head and sits down on a rickety metal chair. It's uneven, and shifts under her weight. She looks out one of the four floor-to-ceiling windows. In the distance of the horizon, Delanna can see the faint silhouette of the;

¨Tower of Pisa.¨ She says in wonder.

¨Yep, the one and only.¨ A boy across the table says. He wears the same uniform as the others, but somehow it complements his bright blue eyes, which remind Delanna of her own. ¨The names Samuel but my friends call me Sam-Dawg.¨

¨No one calls you that.¨ Lily points out. Delanna giggles softly, but Samuel must've heard her because he reaches over and punches her in the shoulder.

¨Hey!¨ Delanna exclaims. At least she has some friends here.