By: Eva Luo

Esther sat on her front porch with her cat, eating sherbet and watching passerbys\. It was her last day before 8th grade. The last day before having homework again, waking up early, and rushing from class to class. The last day before last year before heading to high school. Gazing up at the clouds, she wondered, What will happen this year? She went back into the house to check her school supplies and backpack. Just as she finished, her dad called her to dinner. Even as her family was chatting with each other, Esther was silent. She quickly finished the last of the pasta on her plate and went back to her room. Esther laid on her bed, looking up into the skylight. 8th grade seemed so far away yet so close, just like the stars. She got up, picked an outfit for the first day of school, and set an alarm for 6:45 am. After brushing her teeth, she laid on the bed, restless. She decided to count the stars once more, and fell asleep. Promptly at 6:45 am, she woke up, took a shower, ate breakfast, and headed to school with her older sister and her dad. After orientation, she said goodbye to her family, and stepped into her homeroom. Several students were already at their assigned desks. As Esther sat down, she noticed a tiny slip of paper on her desk. It was pale pink with a cherry blossom border. It read, Dear Esther, No matter what happens this year, everything will turn out all right. From, Mom. Esther froze. Mom was all the way across the ocean. How would this slip of paper be here? She looked up from the paper and saw her homeroom teacher smiling at her.

He seemed familiar, but Esther couldn’t remember who he was. After a few minutes, she realized he was her uncle. He must have told Mom that he would be my homeroom teacher. Then Mom would’ve mailed this to him, Esther thought. She smiled back at her uncle. Her mom’s encouragement had washed away all her doubts, fears, and insecurities. Esther felt light and carefree, like a cloud floating along the warm breeze. This would be a good school year.