A New Beginning

As Clio stood outside her mother's hospital room, she felt a mix of emotions swirling inside her, and tears began to trickle down her face. The harsh words from her father played in her mind, creating a backdrop of despair that she was struggling to overcome.

Just then, the sound of footsteps approached, and Clio turned to see a nurse making her way toward her, with a look of genuine concern on her face.

"Clio, how are you managing right now?" the nurse asked, her voice warm and reassuring.

Clio quickly wiped her tears away. "I'm okay, thank you," she said, though the shakiness in her voice hinted at her inner struggle.

The nurse nodded empathetically. "Your mother is in good hands and is going to be alright. We're here to take excellent care of her."

At that moment, Clio felt a flicker of hope. "Thank you for saying that," she replied, her voice filled with sincerity.

As the nurse turned to leave, Clio noticed something on the floor and bent down to pick up a crumpled piece of paper, finding a phone number written on it.

"Excuse me, I think this belongs to you," she said, holding the paper up for the nurse.

The nurse's eyes brightened, and a knowing smile formed on her lips. "You can keep that. It's the number of the person who helped your mother. He gave it to me right before he left."

Clio's heart raced at this revelation. She looked at the nurse in gratitude and nodded before stepping into her mother's room.

"Daughter..." her mother called, her face lighting up with a smile.

"I'm relieved to see you looking better, but the discharge has been set for tomorrow," Clio informed her, taking a seat by her side.

"Were you crying?" Mrs Jenkins asked, her tone playfully teasing yet concerned.

"No, I'm just trying to be strong," Clio replied, managing a smile, even though she was aware it was not entirely convincing.

"I'm your mother, so you can't hide your feelings from me; your eyes are red," Mrs. Jenkins remarked with a gentle tease.

Clio offered a small smile in response. "I knew you would see right through me."

"You should think about heading home. Don't you have school tomorrow?" Mrs. Jenkins suggested thoughtfully.

"I've decided to skip classes tomorrow," Clio said firmly.

"Why would you do that?"

"Because my mother is in the hospital, and I don't want to leave her alone," she explained, her smile sincere and purposeful.

Mrs. Jenkins brushed Clio's hair affectionately. "That shows how much you care. I love you so much."

"I love you even more," Clio asserted, the bond between them clear.

"By the way, I plan to file for divorce tomorrow," Mrs Jenkins shared, calmly presenting this significant news.

"I fully support that decision," Clio replied confidently, her smile unwavering.

"You are my rock, mum. I trust you completely. Whatever decision you make is the right one," She added with conviction.

Mrs Jenkins beamed with pride before pulling Clio into a warm embrace. "We will get through this together, alright?"

Clio nodded in agreement, feeling reassured by her mother's strength.

★★★The Next Day★★★

Jason stood confidently before the mirror, dressed sharply and ready for the day ahead. He checked his reflection—his hair styled neatly, his tie impeccably knotted, and his shoes polished to a shine.

"How do I look?" he asked as he turned to Dreck, eager for feedback.

"I can't think of anything negative to say," Dreck responded, rolling his eyes with a playful smile.

"Come on, show some enthusiasm. It's our first day at this new school," Jason encouraged him.

Dreck chuckled lightly. "Says the guy who often seems too serious."

"Was that necessary?" Jason asked, playfully feigning disappointment.

"Let's focus; time is valuable. We need to get going," Dreck said, playfully draping an arm over Jason's shoulder.

"You're supposed to lift me, not bring me down! Just grow taller," Jason teased, trying to keep the mood light.

"My charm works just fine, thank you very much," Dreck joked back as they moved toward the door.

"Have you received any updates from the nurse?" Jason asked with curiosity.

"No, nothing yet," Dreck replied, looking thoughtful.

"Why don't you consider visiting the woman you helped?" Dreck suggested, optimistic about supporting her.

"I trust that she's in good hands. Just make sure any bills are taken care of when she reaches out," Jason said reassuringly, giving Dreck a friendly pat on the shoulder.

"I'll expect prompt reimbursement for that, just so you know," Dreck said with a teasing laugh, prompting a chuckle from Jason as they finally set off.

***A Few Minutes Later***

As they arrived at Belgian High School, Jason and Dreck were struck by the vibrant atmosphere, filled with students interacting in every direction.

They stepped out of the car, presenting themselves as two well-groomed young men ready to take on whatever the day held.

"Wow..." Dreck exclaimed, surveying the lively scene.

"What's surprising? It's standard but an improvement over our last school," Jason replied, maintaining a positive outlook.

"Fair point. Let's head inside; we've got a new adventure ahead," Dreck said with determination, turning to Jason, who nodded in agreement and embraced the upcoming day with confidence.

As they continued walking down the hallway, Dreck suddenly stopped to pick up some stuff that had fallen on the ground.

"I'm really sorry about that," he said, giving a slight bow as he grabbed a book and handed it to the girl he accidentally bumped into.

The girl smiled a little and replied, "No problem, thanks!" before walking away.

Jason looked over at Dreck with a serious expression. "If you keep staring at your phone like that, you're probably going to bump into more people," he said, nudging him to pay more attention.