Chapter Two

“Don’t forget to turn off the lights, you know we can’t afford the bill” I shout to Clara as I run out of the gate not waiting for her response. I have approximately 5 minutes to get to the train station in time or I’d be really late for class.

Coupled with my skillful running, many years of ballet and the fact that the train station is a short distance from my house, I make it to the station in three minutes. The sight that meets me is nothing I haven’t grown used to, hundreds of people clamouring as they wait for the train to arrive.

Eww, I’ll never use a train. The only means of transportation I use by road is a private car. Why will I use a dirty train when my family is rich enough to hire a driver and a car for me.

My lips form into a smile as I remember the stupid things I said when I was much younger, before the world slapped me right in the face. “This must be Karma” I mutter in a daze as I watch the crowd.

Someone rushes past me, hitting me in the process which causes me to snap out of the daze. “Right, focus!” I mutter to myself, walking towards the crowd.

“Sorry” “excuse me” I say, pushing myself deeper into the crowd until I am standing in front of every person, advantageously positioned for the arrival of the next train.

I’ve done this so many times that it requires little effort from me. I remember the first time I arrived at the train station, my dad had dropped me off and he couldn’t give me any guidance as he himself had never been on a train.

At that time I wasn’t even speaking to him, so in my stubbornness I walked off leaving him behind. To my shock I noticed people standing in front of the train, panic began to well up in me as I pondered on how to board the train with so many people blocking it.

A woman noticed me from a distance and I guess she could spot that it was my first time because she came to me and guided me through the crowd, carefully squeezing ourselves through the crowd as she held tightly to me. And to this day I’m grateful to her.

“All Train B passengers should come towards the train” 

I chuckle to myself, the announcement ringing in my head. The moment the train doors open I skillfully jump into the train, if I delayed entering or tried to walk in, I would be trampled upon.

I head to the seat closest to the door, placing my bag on the seat beside me, saving the spot for a friend.

“Is there anyone here?” A guy asks, a wide smile on his face. I nod, “yeah, there is” I say firmly, not leaving room for discussion. The sweet smile he had on immediately changes to a disgusted look as he faces me, “it’s wrong to keep seats for others when others are struggling to get a seat”

I’m about to reply when my friend arrives, “she says the seat is taken, so move on” Ella says, handing me my bag before sitting down. This earns us both a bad look before he reluctantly walks away.

“Hey Ella, good thing you came now or you seat would probably have been forcefully taken” I say, embracing her in a hug.

She rolls her eyes, “oh please, he wouldn’t even dare. He’s so lucky I caught him when I did”

I chuckle, “sometimes you’re so scary”. She shrugs, “I have to be, who’s going to keep guys away from my beautiful friend” she says, wiggling her eyebrows causing me to laugh.

I wouldn’t say that I am beautiful as I used to be when my family had money. I sometimes feel that my beauty faded off with my family’s wealth.

When I look into the mirror I only see a girl with golden hair, an oval face, blue eyed, a small nose and pink lips. My eyes no longer twinkle like they used to and I can’t blame them.

“I’m not that pretty” I say, my lips forming a thin line as I face front. She smiles, “yes you are, almost every guy on campus wants to date you. You probably would have a boyfriend by now, if you didn’t keep turning them down” she says, handing me a cinnamon stick, causing my stomach to rumble.

She laughs, “don’t tell me you didn’t have breakfast this morning”. “ I didn’t, I had a lot to do this morning” I say, in between mouthfuls, enjoying the taste of the cinnamon stick as it melts in my mouth.

“You need to make more time for yourself” she says. I smile, “I wish I could, but I can’t afford it, time has become of the essence as each day goes by”

She nods her head not completely understanding what I just said but being understating and supportive any way.