Copyright © 2021 Bethel-Gold. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher, addressed "Attention: Permissions Coordinator," at the address below. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Names, characters, and places are products of the author's imagination. *** Everyone wants to live normal, act normal, be normal, do normal things, and not be tagged as weird or as an outsider when you can do or see things of the ordinary. Have normal friends who do normal things, go to normal parties, have normal sleepovers, have normal primary and secondary schoo

9 years ago… “Good morning class” our teacher Ms. Maxwell greets us as she came into the classroom. We all stood up to greet her. “Good morning Ms. Maxwell” we all chorused and she smiled then told us we could sit down to which we complied. Ms. Maxwell is our English and Literature teacher. She is really nice and a kind-hearted person and also friendly… we all love her and her carry-along charisma. She is very pretty too and we all love how gentle she is with us. “Today we are going to be reading from our ‘Storytelling book’ so one after the other, you will go to the back of the class to grab your book from the shelf,” she told us, and we all nodded. She pointed to the row on the other side of the class and told them to stand up one after the other to go and fetch their book. It went on for some minutes till everyone had their book with them. “Okay, now open to page eight and…” she looked around the class befo

“Is this a dessert?” I asked myself out loud because that is what this place is looking like at the moment. It was dry, sandy, and lack any form of civilization. There isn't even a road, to begin with, and it makes me wonder how I was able to find my way here. What made me glad was that it is dark and I do hope I can get to civilization before it gets dark. I began walking in a direction I am not familiar with but at least I am moving from the spot I was in. I had walked for some time when I started feeling thirsty already and the slightly hot sun did no good to keep me hydrated. I had no water with me and it made me cough a few times as I walked. The only thing I hope is to see someone… anyone who could offer me a drink of water first before asking where I am and how I could get out… if they would help me though. Then I saw a road upfront and a smile crept its way to my lips as I felt a bit of hope that someone was around here so it kept me f

Everyone made their way out of the classrooms as the bell for ‘break time’ rang, some couldn’t wait to get to their friends from other class, some can’t wait to swallow the store that sells snacks and other edible things while the rest couldn’t wait to get to their loved ones. By loved ones, I meant ‘boyfriends’ and ‘girlfriends’. I was still in class watching everyone go out and come in. I needed a quiet place to meditate and reflect on what was taught in class today and also to talk to GOD like I have been doing since I promised to be better. He helped me in my growth and mental treatment so I am grateful to him. “Daniella, are you coming for food?” I heard Leo ask from behind me so I turned my head to look at him but he came to stand in front of me instead. I looked up at him and the boyish cute smile that makes almost all the girls in our set fawn over him.  Who wouldn't?

I was studying in our dining area since I couldn’t study in my room due to Elle disturbing me and I really don’t want to flip her off, so I had to stay down here to study. It was 11:43 pm the last time I checked and I yawned, feeling the tiredness going through my body. Maybe I should retire for the night but I was determined to finish chapter twelve of our English textbook before retiring to my room so I flipped to the next page and yawned when I heard a faint sound… more like footsteps. I looked up at the stairs that lead up from our rooms to the living room while adjusting my reading glasses on my nose but I saw nothing. It was a tad bit dark, just the light from the dining room that was illuminating the living room. I brushed it off, just so I don't get scared or anything. The wind blew a bit making one of the curtains in the living room sway. ‘I thought it was locked?’ I