EMILY STOOD AT THE ENTRANCE TO THE BELL TOWER. IT WAS THE FIRST PLACE SHE HAD STAYED AT WHEN SHE HAD RUN AWAY, THE FIRST PLACE SHE FOUND THAT SHE COULD GET INTO WITHOUT A KEY. SHE HAD SLEPT UNDER THE BELL, LOOKING AT THE STARS, AND DREAMING ABOUT WHAT HER LIFE COULD HAVE BEEN IF HER PARENTS HAD ACTUALLY CARED. HER HAND AGAIN MOVED TO THE SCAR AT THE BACK OF HER NECK. HER HAIR LIFTED IN THE BREEZE. SHE QUICKLY FLATTENED IT BACK DOWN AND LOOKED BACK UP AT THE TOWER, THE SUN RINGED THE BELL, LIKE A HALO.

HER WHOLE REASON FOR COMING TO THIS TOWER WAS JUST TO THINK. SHE HAD GOTTEN INTO THE BEST SCHOOL EVER, A PLACE WHERE SHE WOULD PROBABLY MAKE FRIENDS, REAL FRIENDS, AND MAYBE MEET SOME GUYS SHE DIDN’T JUST WANT TO TALK TO TO FILL THE GAP THAT HER PARENT’S LEFT. MY PARENTS… SHE THOUGHT, LOOKING DOWN AT HER SHOES. HER PARENTS HAD BEEN REPORTED DEAD EARLIER THAT YEAR. SHE HAD NO ONE, NO FAMILY. THE GOVERNMENT WAS TRYING TO FIND HER A FAMILY TO STAY WITH, AND SHE HOPED THEY WOULD BE CLOSE TO HER SCHOOL. SHE DIDN’T WANT TO GIVE UP ON SUCH A BIG OPPURTUNITY. IT’S A SILLY THING TO HOPE FOR, BUT I DO HOPE FOR IT, SHE THOUGHT AS SHE WALKED UP TO THE DOOR AND SWUNG IT OPEN. THE AIR CONDITIONED ROOM FORCED HER TO SMILE. SHE HADN’T NOTCIED HOW HOT IT HAD GOTTEN OUTSIDE IN HER COAT. SHE UNBUTTONED IT AND LOOKED AT HER LIGHT PURPLE TANK TOP. SHE SCANNED THE EMPTY ROOM TO FIND THE STAIRS UP TO THE BELL, HER PARENTS MOMENTARILY FORGOTTEN. WHEN SHE FOUND IT, SHE MOVED QUICKLY THROUGH, NOT NOTICING THAT THE DOOR STILL HUNG OPEN. SHE CLIMBED THE STAIRS TWO AT A TIME, WANTING TO GET BACK TO THE FRESH AIR AND OUT OF THE STUFFY ROOM.

THE AREA WHERE THE BELL WAS HELD WAS ALL STONE, AND WAS JUST A LITTLE ROOM WHERE THE BELL WAS IN THE MIDDLE. IT WAS ORDINARY AND SIMPLE, YET BEAUTIFUL. SOMEHOW EMILY FELT AT HOME. SHE SAT NEAR THE RAILING, HANGING HER LEGS OVER THE EDGE. SHE LOOKED OUT AT THE TOWN THAT SHE HOPED WOULD BECOME HER HOME. SHE STARTED DRAWING THE TOWN.