Autumn arrived quietly, as if it had been waiting all along. That morning, the sky was so high and blue it felt like you could reach out and touch the cottony clouds drifting lazily above. A soft breeze brushed past her hair, whispering secrets only fifteen-year-olds could understand.
The school gate was tall and wide. Lunna took a deep breath, her fingers gently brushing the hem of her brand-new uniform skirt. Today was the first day of tenth grade—and everything around her felt both unfamiliar and full of promise.
She stepped through the gate, sensing the buzz of students all around. Some were laughing cheerfully, already surrounded by close friends. Others, like her, walked slowly, eyes curious and cautious as they took in every corner of the new school.
Lunna had always been a dreamy girl. She loved cloudy skies, colorful flowers, and scribbling poetry in the margins of her notebooks. Her imagination often drifted to places that didn't exist—castles, forests, and skies in impossible colors. But today, she made a quiet promise to herself: to be truly present. She would begin this new chapter not as the quiet girl at the back of the class, but as someone open to new memories.
"Hi there," a voice rang out.
She turned around and saw a girl with long, sleek hair and a tilted, friendly smile. There was something confident and warm about her. "I'm Sophie," the girl said. "You look like you're looking for something."
"I guess… my classroom?" Lunna replied, her voice hesitant but polite.
"Class 10A5, right? Same here. Come on, I'll show you," Sophie said, turning and walking ahead without waiting for a reply. Lunna, slightly surprised but relieved, followed her.
As they passed the first hallway, a student wearing a bright red armband stopped them—likely a hall monitor. They frowned slightly and asked briskly:
"Name? Class?"
Startled, Lunna stammered,"I'm… Lunna, class 10A5."
Sophie quickly stepped in with a soft laugh: "We're new students, just looking for our classroom."
The monitor scribbled something into a notebook, then nodded for them to move along.
They reached the classroom. Lunna picked a seat in group two, second desk from the back. As she sat down, something felt... off. She looked down and wanted to vanish.
She had mismatched shoes on!
One was creamy white, the other slightly grayish—same design, but different shades. Obvious to anyone paying close attention. She quickly hid her feet under the desk.
Sophie, sitting beside her, noticed—but said nothing. She simply gave Lunna a reassuring smile.
Class began. The teacher entered with a warm voice. The whole class stood to greet her, then quickly sat down. But not two minutes in, whispers rose from the back.
A tall boy with slightly messy hair, sitting at the very last desk, kept murmuring things—sometimes chuckling, sometimes doodling strange shapes on his desk.
Sophie frowned, leaned toward Lunna, and whispered, "That's Max, I think. A bit of a chatterbox…"
Lunna nodded slightly, trying to focus on the teacher's words. After a brief introduction, the teacher started calling names and assigning class roles.
"Lunna… you'll be group two leader. And Ava, you'll be the assistant leader," she paused and added, "Max, you'll be the class secretary," glancing toward the back. "But remember, the secretary doesn't speak on behalf of the group leader, okay?"
The class chuckled softly. Max sat up straight, pretending to nod seriously, but couldn't hide his mischievous grin.
Lunna quietly looked at the board and noticed the familiar name: Ava. She realized Ava was an old classmate of hers.
At the end of the period, the teacher added,"Tomorrow morning, we'll be cleaning the classroom and the hallway. Group leaders, please take attendance for me."
The bell rang, marking the end of the first period. Lunna looked out the window—the autumn sunlight was still gentle and clear, just like that morning.
Everything felt so new.
And though a little messy, a little awkward, there was a warm feeling rising in her chest—as if something wonderful was waiting just ahead