CHAPTER SIX — BACK TO SCHOOL
1585 Words
Lydia barely slept.
The photograph stayed inside her bag.
She had taken it out twice during the night, stared at the three figures, then put it away again.
Her mother.
Mrs. Allen.
And the little girl standing between them.
The house behind them.
She had spent hours trying to remember it.
Nothing came.
By morning, she had a headache.
Lydia sat on the edge of her bed and looked at the time.
She was already late.
For a moment, she considered staying home.
Then she looked at the school uniform hanging beside her wardrobe.
She had missed too many days already.
She stood.
She got dressed, packed her books, and slipped the photograph into the back pocket of her bag.
Whatever questions she had, school was still school.
She couldn't stay away forever.
---
The school gate was crowded when Lydia arrived.
Students moved in groups across the compound.
Some laughed.
Others hurried toward their classrooms, trying to beat the bell.
Lydia slowed when she stepped through the gate.
Nothing had changed.
The same buildings.
The same noisy corridor.
The same students who had known her for years without really knowing her.
She adjusted the strap of her bag and continued walking.
A few people noticed her.
Someone whispered.
Another student glanced back.
Lydia ignored them.
She reached her classroom and stopped at the door.
For a second, she felt like she was entering a place she had left much longer ago than she actually had.
Then she walked inside.
Her seat was still empty.
Lydia placed her bag down and took out her books.
A girl sitting nearby looked at her.
“You're back.”
Lydia nodded.
“Yeah.”
“We thought you transferred.”
“I didn't.”
The girl shrugged and returned to her book.
Lydia sat down.
She opened her notebook.
The teacher entered a few minutes later.
The class settled.
For the first time in days, Lydia forced herself to concentrate on something that had nothing to do with her mother, Mrs. Allen, or the photograph hidden in her bag.
Numbers appeared on the board.
She copied them.
The teacher explained the lesson.
Lydia listened carefully.
She realized how much she had missed. Her classmates had moved ahead while she was away, and she would have to catch up. It was ordinary work, but she welcomed it. For once, she wanted something simple to occupy her mind.
She missed one step in the calculation, noticed the mistake, and corrected it before the teacher moved on.
It felt almost normal.
Almost.
Then the classroom door opened.
Lydia looked up.
Kimberly walked in.
Two girls followed behind her.
Kimberly stopped when she saw Lydia.
Her expression changed.
Not surprise.
Recognition.
She slowly smiled.
“Well.”
Lydia lowered her eyes to her notebook.
Kimberly walked toward the back of the classroom.
“Look who's finally back.”
A few students laughed.
Lydia continued writing.
Kimberly stopped beside her desk.
“I heard you disappeared.”
Lydia didn't look up.
“I was away.”
“For how long?”
Lydia closed her notebook.
“Why do you care?”
The girls behind Kimberly exchanged looks.
Kimberly's smile disappeared for a moment.
Then she laughed.
“Still trying to act brave?”
Lydia looked at her.
“No.”
Kimberly waited.
Lydia picked up her pen.
“I'm just answering you.”
The room became quiet again.
Kimberly's eyes narrowed.
This was different.
The old Lydia would have lowered her head.
She would have apologized even when she hadn't done anything.
She would have tried to disappear.
Kimberly pulled Lydia's notebook toward herself.
Lydia immediately reached for it.
“Give it back.”
Kimberly raised an eyebrow.
“What?”
“My notebook.”
Kimberly held it higher.
“You're making demands now?”
Lydia stood.
“Give it back.”
Kimberly stared at her.
For a moment, neither moved.
Then Kimberly dropped the notebook onto the desk.
It landed with a slap.
“There.”
Lydia picked it up.
“Thank you.”
Kimberly's expression hardened.
“You've changed.”
Lydia looked at her.
“Maybe.”
Kimberly stepped closer.
“What happened to you?”
“Nothing.”
“You've been gone for days, and now you come back acting like this?”
“Like what?”
“Like you're better than everyone.”
Lydia shook her head.
“I never said that.”
Kimberly scoffed.
“You don't have to.”
The teacher looked toward them.
“Is there a problem?”
Kimberly immediately smiled.
“No, ma'am.”
She returned to her seat.
Lydia sat down.
The lesson continued.
She tried to focus.
But she could feel Kimberly watching her.
---
During break, Lydia stayed in the classroom.
She wasn't hungry.
She opened her notebook and began copying the lesson she had missed.
A shadow fell across the page.
Kimberly.
Lydia didn't look up.
“What?”
Kimberly pulled the chair opposite her and sat.
“You really are different.”
Lydia continued writing.
“You already said that.”
“I want to know why.”
“You won't believe me.”
“Try me.”
Lydia finally looked at her.
“I had things to deal with.”
Kimberly studied her face.
“What things?”
“Personal things.”
Kimberly laughed quietly.
“You?”
Lydia closed her notebook.
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“You never have anything going on.”
Lydia looked at her.
“You don't know anything about my life.”
Kimberly leaned back.
“Maybe I know enough.”
Lydia said nothing.
Kimberly's eyes moved to Lydia's bag.
“What did you bring?”
“Books.”
“You're lying.”
Lydia frowned.
“How would you know?”
“Because you're holding your bag like someone is going to steal it.”
Lydia looked down.
Her hand was resting tightly against the side of the bag.
She hadn't realized.
She loosened her grip.
Kimberly smiled.
“So there is something.”
“It's none of your business.”
Kimberly shrugged.
“I didn't say it was.”
Lydia studied her.
Kimberly reached for her own notebook.
“I was only asking.”
Lydia opened her book again.
“Then now you know.”
Kimberly rolled her eyes.
“You're becoming annoying.”
“You've always thought that.”
Kimberly's mouth twitched.
“Maybe.”
The bell rang.
Kimberly stood and picked up her books.
She walked away without another word.
Lydia watched her for a second before returning to her work.
---
The rest of the school day passed quietly.
Lydia took notes.
Answered two questions in class.
Missed one.
Corrected it.
At lunch, she stayed with a few classmates and listened to them talk about an upcoming assignment.
One complained about the amount of work.
Another said she had already finished hers.
Lydia joined the conversation for a few minutes.
She realized she had missed ordinary things like this.
Nothing strange happened.
No strange voice.
No frightening memory.
No unanswered message.
Just school.
When the final bell rang, everyone rushed to leave.
Lydia packed her books slowly.
She was almost at the door when Kimberly called her.
“Lydia.”
She turned.
Kimberly stood a few steps away, her bag hanging from one shoulder.
“You're coming tomorrow, right?”
Lydia frowned.
“Why?”
Kimberly smiled.
“Why wouldn't you?”
Lydia watched her.
“Because you asked.”
Kimberly's smile remained.
“So?”
Lydia said nothing.
Kimberly tilted her head.
“Don't disappear again.”
Then she turned and walked away with her friends.
Lydia remained where she was.
She watched Kimberly's back until she disappeared through the doorway.
The question stayed in her mind.
You're coming tomorrow, right?
Why had Kimberly asked?
Lydia couldn't tell.
Maybe it meant nothing.
Maybe Kimberly was simply being nosy.
Or maybe she had something planned.
Lydia picked up her bag.
Whatever Kimberly was thinking, she wasn't going to spend the rest of the afternoon guessing.
She would find out when she came back tomorrow.
---
Outside, students filled the walkway.
Some headed toward buses.
Others waited for their friends.
Lydia walked through the gate alone.
The afternoon sun was warm against her face.
She breathed in slowly.
Her mind felt lighter than it had that morning.
She still had questions.
She still had the photograph.
She still had the notebook hidden in her bag.
But she also had homework waiting for her.
Tomorrow's lessons.
A test she needed to prepare for.
Life had not stopped simply because she had discovered things she didn't understand.
Lydia adjusted her bag and started walking home.
Halfway down the street, she stopped at a small shop and bought a bottle of water.
The woman behind the counter smiled at her.
“Back from school?”
“Yes.”
“Long day?”
“A little.”
She paid and continued walking.
The road ahead was familiar.
For once, she didn't feel the need to look over her shoulder.
When she reached home, she opened the door and stepped inside.
She placed her schoolbag on the chair.
Then she looked at it.
The photograph was still inside.
So was the notebook.
Lydia stood there for a moment.
Then she picked up her schoolbooks.
The mystery could wait until after she finished her assignment.
She sat at the table and opened her notebook.
For the next hour, she studied.
Nothing happened.
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