Morgana Blackwood lingered at the gates, her inky hair falling in sharp points over a white-collared, black dress. Her stockings were striped, and her boots left muddy imprints on the path. The town’s children streamed past her, their laughter a stark contrast to her anxious silence.
Ms. Harper, the teacher, offered a warm smile. "Welcome, Morgana! We're so happy to have you with us. Would you like to introduce yourself to the class?"
Morgana hesitated, feeling dozens of curious eyes upon her. She finally whispered, "Hello. I like poetry, bats, and midnight walks." Giggles rippled through the room, but she tried to ignore them.
A soccer ball rolled to her feet, and Jake, a freckled boy with grass-stained knees, approached her hesitantly. "Hey, um, want to play with us?"
Morgana glanced up, her eyes wide. "Maybe later. I'm drawing right now," she replied, hoping she didn’t sound rude. Jake shrugged and ran back, but not before giving her a friendly wave.
Brittany, the self-proclaimed queen bee, leaned toward her friends. "Did you see her dress? She looks like she came from a haunted house!"
Morgana felt her cheeks flush. She wished she could disappear into her shadows, but instead, she took a deep breath and pulled out her notebook, determined not to cry.
Lucy, a shy girl with thick glasses, noticed her. "I like Edgar Allan Poe, too," she said softly, nodding at the raven on Morgana’s notebook cover.
A genuine smile crossed Morgana's face for the first time that day. "Do you want to read together?" she asked, and Lucy nodded eagerly, settling down beside her.
Jake joined them, soccer ball in hand, and even Brittany wandered over, curiosity overcoming her caution. The group listened as Morgana recited a poem, her voice soft but confident. For the first time, she felt the small town didn’t seem so strange—or so unwelcoming—after all.
