Michelle

The day everything changed

---

The night my world changed, the air was

heavy with the late night

dew and the sharp scent of burning

herbs.My grandmother's

wrinkled hands trembled as she pressed

a golden pendant into

my palm. "From this moment, child, no

thought about you will

ever be hidden. You will hear them

all-the truth people dare not

speak."Grandma what do you mean, I

asked curiously,speak not

child for you can't know more than this

which I have spoken unto

you,she replied.Grandma turned to look

at mum who was sitted

beside her death bed, I have handed over

the gift to her make

sure she uses it properly,she whispered

softly as her voice faded

slowly,silence echoed,grandma was

gone,I could feel the tears

drop down my cheeks slowly as mum

and dad paid their last

respect before she was covered in a

white sheet to be taken to the

mortuary .

I am Michelle by name ,currently in my

final year of high

school,my parent were divorced and the

only time i got to see

mum again was during my

grandmother's death.I am living with

only my dad but it's fine cause dad gives

me everything I Need

And I never have to worry about my mum

cause she always shows

Up whenever she likes,still don't know

the cause of their divorce

And my mum is already engaged to

someone else so I guess it's

just me and dad against the world.

"Grin,grin",rang my alarm bell as I dashed

out of bed and ran

Into the bathroom to have my bathe

since i was going to school

Grandma's last word to me kept on

ringing in my ears as I

Scrubbed my body,what could she have

meant I thought but got

No reasonable response to it.

I stepped out of the bathroom, the

warmth of the water still

clinging to my skin, and inhaled the faint

scent of my body cream.

Carefully, I smoothed it over my arms

and legs, then dabbed a

little perfume behind my ears. Small

rituals like these always

grounded me, made me feel ready to

face the world-ready to

step into the day as myself. I brushed my

hair until it fell just

right, tugged gently at the hem of my

skirt, and checked my

reflection one last time.

Time was slipping by, but I couldn't

rush ,dad always told me

about the dangers of rushing things and

besides, moving

deliberately made me feel in control.

Still, I couldn't ignore the ever-present

worry in the back of my

mind: the new principal, Mr. Hills. He had

arrived at the school

just this term, and whispers about him

had spread fast.

Latecomers didn't just get a

warning-they were sent to clean the

janitor's closet,

The thought made me straighten my

shoulders and quicken my

pace just a little,I grabbed my bag and

slipped on my shoe

Heading downstairs, I picked up the the.

toasted bread from the

plate where it was served to me by

dad,Mrs Nancy my nanny

wasn't around so dad decided Prepare

my breakfast. I gotta go

dad ,good morning and bye i said

Rushing ,easy baby he replied

aren't you gonna take lunch to school he

asked,no not today I

gotta go, i would get something from the

cafeteria I replied as I

ran outside and entered into the Car as

my driver drove me to

School.

---

I stepped out into the crisp morning air,

my bag slung over my

shoulder, trying to ignore the flutter of

nerves in my stomach.

The school gates loomed ahead,

students already streaming in,

chatting and laughing as if the world had

no rules at all. I walked

briskly, careful not to draw attention, my

mind replaying the

whispered warnings about the new

principal.

Mr. Hills. Just the name sent a shiver

down my spine. Tall,

sharp-eyed, and always impeccably

dressed, he had an air of

authority that made even the boldest

students straighten up.

I took a deep breath and entered the

school building.

The hallways buzzed with energy, lockers

clanging, sneakers

squeaking on the polished floors. I

glanced at the clock-minutes

to spare. Relief washed over me, fleeting

but sweet. Maybe today,

I wouldn't be on the receiving end of his

infamous closet

punishment.

Just as I relaxed, a sharp voice cut

through the laughter of the

students as the whole place became

quiet

"Miss...? Stop right there!"

My heart jumped. I turned slowly. Mr.

Hills stood at the end of the

hall, arms crossed, eyes scanning the

students with precision that

made my stomach twist. My feet felt

glued to the floor.

"Good morning, Principal Hills," I said,

forcing my voice to sound

calm.

He raised an eyebrow. "Late?" His tone

was not angry-yet-but it

carried a weight that made everyone

around us freeze.

"No, sir," I replied, clutching my bag

tightly.

He studied me for a long, silent moment,

as if weighing every

word and movement. Then, surprisingly,

he nodded. "Very well.

But remember, punctuality is not optional

here. You are

dismissed."

I exhaled, a mix of relief coursing through

me. I had escaped the

closet this time, but the warning was

clear: Mr. Hills saw

everything. Every second counted. Every

step mattered.

As I walked to class, I felt a newfound

determination. Today, I

would not just avoid punishment-I would

thrive. And maybe,

just maybe, I might try to get on the good

sides of sia and her

clique.

"Michelle",wait up a familiar voice called

out to me and I

immediately knew it was Ardee my

bestfriend.Ardee and i have

been bestfriends since kindergarten,his

parent were also

divorced,we both had each other

back,Ardee's grandparents were

the founders of my school.He hugged me

from behind and I

smiled at him,howdy he asked with a

smile ,am good I replied

your dad told me about your

grandmother hope you are not still

thinking about it,he said as I smiled at

him ,she was already old

and we were all expecting it I guess

that's why I am not really

Sad I replied,just then the bell for classes

rang as we both walked

to class hand in hand.I got something to

show you after

classes he said as I smiled at

him,throughout the first period I

kept on thinking about what Ardee had to

show me,as soon as the

Class was over I rushed to his seat,relax

mich he said as he dipped

His hand into his backpack and brought

out a silve necklace,OMG!

I blurted out as he used his right hand to cover my mouth from

Saying anything else ,are you okay he

asked expecting response

but I just nodded my head

affirmatively.Who is it for I asked after

removing his palm from covering my

mouth,someone he replied

as I smiled already knowing it was meant

for me since I was the

only female in his life asides his mum

whom he now hated and

there wasn't another I knew of,I didn't

want him to feel like I

knew who it was meant for so I just

decided to wait for the day he

was ready to give it to me.I fought so

hard to control my feelings

towards Ardee because i knew that if he

found out that i liked

him he might eventually start drifting

from me so i promised

my self never to make him find out.In

class I was known for

being a smart wierdo who never

associated with anyone asides

Ardee.The English teacher wasn't in

school so there wasn't any

other class till break, I sat on my desk

with my head fixed on the

Chemistry notebook I was reading.It was

time for break Ardee had

fencing classes which means he

wouldn't be able to join me for

break so I went to the cafeteria alone got

my food and sat down

down alone to eat.

After school I waited for Ardee but he

texted saying he was having

A class with our homeroom teacher and i

should go alone this

time ."Lets go" I said to my driver as he

drove me back home ,it

was a boring ride back home I just

wished I had another person

to keep me company.When I got home

dad wasn't around ,the

whole house felt empty,I went into my

room undressed and laid

On my bed,I had always wanted a female

friend but each one I

tried approaching rejected saying I was a

wierdo so I decided

to stick to Ardee as my only friend, it was

though at times, most

especially times to go back home but it

wasn't anyone's fault,after

going through my phone I slept off.