Chapter 1: A New Beginning

The evening air was cooler than Bella had anticipated as she stood in front of her childhood home, her gaze lingering on the familiar streets. The setting sun cast a warm orange glow over the horizon, painting the sky in hues of pink and purple. The soft rustle of leaves in the trees was the only sound, the air carrying the faint scent of the nearby flowers. It was a perfect evening, one that would mark the end of an era in her life.

She was leaving.

It didn’t feel real.

Bella tightened her grip on the strap of her worn-out duffel bag, the fabric now softened from years of use. It felt like just yesterday when she had packed it for the first time. Now, it contained everything she would need for the next chapter of her life—the one she had dreamed of for so long. Medical school. A fresh start in a new city, away from the memories that had haunted her for years. It was supposed to be exciting, exhilarating. Yet, standing here, she felt nothing but a heavy lump in her chest, a mix of nervousness and uncertainty.

Is this really what I want? she thought, shaking her head as she tried to clear the doubt clouding her mind. I’ve worked for this. This is my dream. I can’t let fear control me.

Her fingers grazed the edges of the notebook sticking out of the bag. It was something she had carried for as long as she could remember. Mom used to call it my "book of dreams." Her mind wandered to her mother, whose face still haunted her memories.

Bella was only ten when her world changed forever. Her mother, Emily Carter, had passed away unexpectedly, and everything she had once known shattered. The house had been filled with laughter and warmth when her mom was around. Afterward, the silence took over. Her father, David Carter, a workaholic who could barely find time for family, retreated further into his own world. Bella found solace in volleyball, a sport that gave her a way to express herself when words failed.

But tonight, as she prepared to leave that home behind, she couldn’t ignore the grief that still lingered in her heart. No matter how much time passed, some things never truly healed. Her mother’s absence was a scar that would always remain, though she tried to push it to the back of her mind.

She reached into her pocket and pulled out her phone, fingers flying over the screen to type a message.

Bella (texting Sophia):

“Leaving today. Can’t believe I’m actually going... Gonna miss you guys so much.”

Sophia, her best friend since high school, had always been her rock. A witty and confident girl, Sophia had been the one who kept Bella grounded during the hardest times. Their friendship had been formed in the chaos of their teenage years, and now, even as they both moved on to different chapters, Bella could always count on her to have her back.

The familiar buzz of a response came almost immediately.

Sophia (texting back):

“We’ll miss you too! But I know you’ll do amazing. Promise me you’ll visit?”

Bella smiled as she read the message, her heart warming at the thought of her friends back home. It wasn’t going to be easy leaving everything behind—especially Sophia and the others. She had promised herself that she would make it through, no matter how difficult, but the idea of not seeing her friends regularly was still hard to swallow.

She glanced over her shoulder, watching the familiar house that had been her home for so many years. The porch swing her mom used to sit on, the old oak tree in the backyard that she had climbed countless times as a child—it all felt so... final. Like something was slipping through her fingers.

It’s time to let go, Bella thought, her lips curling into a faint smile. I can’t stay here forever. I have to move on. I have to make my own way.

The car pulled up at that moment, its headlights cutting through the dusk, breaking her from her reverie. It was time to leave. She took one last look at the house, locked away the memories, and climbed into the car.

The ride was quiet, the hum of the engine and the rhythmic tapping of her fingers against the window the only sounds in the car. Bella didn’t speak much, lost in her thoughts. The air outside was getting colder, and the lights of the city shimmered in the distance. The realization that she was leaving everything behind finally hit her—no more endless nights of studying with her friends, no more spontaneous outings, no more volleyball practices at the local gym. It was all about to change.

Her phone buzzed again, pulling her back to the present. This time, it was a text from her father, David Carter.

David (texting):

“Safe travels, Bells. Make sure you call when you arrive.”

Her heart sank a little. It wasn’t that she didn’t appreciate his message; it was the usual way he communicated. Businesslike. Practical. There was no warmth, no sense of closeness. Bella had learned long ago not to expect much from her father. He was the chairman of a large company, always busy with work. And while she understood his commitment to his career, it didn’t make the loneliness any easier to bear.

I guess this is just how it is, Bella thought. I’ll always have to carry the weight of things on my own.

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