Chapter 32: Deafening Silence

*Esmerelda*

I glanced at myself in the mirror. Tilting my chin up slightly, I felt determination well up inside of me more strongly than ever.

This day wasn’t going to be like the last couple of Mondays. I was going to march up to the gates of the night school with my head held high and no scent of fear to be found.

This time, I was going to be ready.

I felt beautiful in the night school uniform. It included a full dark skirt and a tight-fitting blouse with a sparkling bodice. It was what I had in my jewelry box that was really going to make me feel secure.

I lifted the lid of the box to reveal a set of silver trinkets that I got from the headmaster. I put on the silver necklace first, watching as the tear-drop ruby settled against my chest. The matching bracelet jangled around my wrist as I fastened it on. When I lifted it up to the light in my bedroom, it threw little dots of light against the nearby wall.