Some dreams began as ideas.
The strongest ones quietly took root.
Westwood High welcomed another ordinary day.
Students wandered into the library before classes.
The Reading Corner hummed with quiet conversations.
Outside, the Hope Tree stood beside the First Chapter Bench, its slender branches dancing in the cool breeze.
Noah stopped in front of it almost automatically.
Something looked different.
He stepped closer.
Tiny new leaves had appeared along one of the branches.
Fresh.
Bright green.
Alive.
He smiled.
"It growing."
Lily walked up beside him.
"What did?"
He pointed.
"The Hope Tree."
She looked carefully.
Then smiled just as widely.
"It has new leaves."
"It really does."
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
They simply admired the little tree.
Somehow—
thos
