Sumaya stood frozen in front of the towering entrance of Ridgehaven High, her heart pounding so loudly it almost drowned out the morning chatter around her. The school's name, bold and gleaming, was carved into a large stone plaque embedded in the brick archway that led into the courtyard. It loomed above her, almost mocking in its presence, like an enemy she couldn't avoid.
Her throat felt dry as she stared up at the letters, RIDGEHAVEN HIGH, swallowing hard against the lump forming in her throat. The familiar building, with its glass windows reflecting the early sun, suddenly looked like a fortress she wasn't sure she could walk into.
Her fingers twitched against the strap of her backpack, clinging to it like a lifeline as she fought to steady her nerves. What if everyone starts treating me differently? What if they look at me like I'm some kind of freak? The questions spun around in her head, making her chest tighten.
