The Price of being Pretentious

Chapter Twenty-seven: Come Back

I woke up in the morning. I blinked twice as I opened my eyes. I was staring at a familiar ceiling painted cloudy sky with glowing stars. I rose on a pink bed, pink sheets, and a bunch of teddy bears. I tilted my head in confusion. I faced the mirror on the dresser. My eyes widened when I saw my reflection. I looked like I'm a seven-year-old little girl in pink pajamas.

'London, breakfast is ready!' My heart skipped a beat when I heard my grandmother's voice coming from downstairs.

I rushed towards the kitchen to see my grandma.

'Grandma!' I called, then ran towards to embrace her.

'What's wrong London?' Grandma asked with perplexity.

I shook my head. 'I just miss you.' I said in my low voice, trying not to cry.

'We were together the whole day yesterday. We kept watching your favorite movie, remember.' She said as she pulled away.

I don't want to let go of her hug. But she carried me to sit on the high stool at the counter. She sat beside me and started eating her meal.

'Eat before it gets cold.' She ordered.

I was just silent. I don't know what to do. I had too many questions to ask. I took the spoon and stirred the maple syrup on the pancakes.

'How's your day today, dear.' Grandma inquired.

'Not good.' My little voice replied.

'Why you say so?'

'I-I'm scared.'

'Sure thing. You can be scared. It's your first day at school today. You will meet new kids like you. You will have to deal with the environment. Being scared is not a bad thing. But running away is not a good way to deal with it.'

'Then how do you deal with fear grandma?'

'You have to face it, my dear.'

'Do you have to look for the fear's position to know where to face it?' I asked her innocently.

Grandma chuckled. 'No. London, when we say you have to face it. You have to make ways to overcome the fear that is inside you. Like a hero who fought the dragon from the movie you watched. You are the hero and your fear was the dragon. The hero had to take up his sword and fight to slay the dragon. That's how you face fear.'

I remembered that movie was my favorite when I was young. I could watch it four times a day.

'Are you saying that I had to be brave like the hero?'

She smiled and nodded. 'Eat faster, dear. You will be late.'

I pouted my lips. 'But I don't want to go. I want to stay here. I want to be with you the whole day and watch a movie again.' I whined.

'This is not the time for movies, London.' She said like a warning.

'I don't want to go. I will miss grandma.' I looked down at my untouched meal.

I'm sorry grandma I turned out to be a coward. I want to face my fear, but I feel like I'm giving up.

'I'm sure you will have a lot of fun, dear. Tell grandma all about it when you come back.' She smiled once more. 'I will fetch you after school.'

I went down on the high chair, like coming down on a ladder. Suddenly, the scenery changed to something like a green plain filled with flowers. I could see my teacher and classmate from afar.

'Hey, where are you going?' The boy said.

I turned around and saw the little boy Paris. 'Stop following me!' I shouted back at him.