All That I Need

Episode 20

Lily’s POV

I was so annoyed that we got interrupted. It was the most meaningful hug that I’d ever had in my life.

My body was still tingling in happiness, and my heart was beating extra quick. I didn’t know that was what happened to your body when you simply hugged someone. Klarissa’s heart had been beating ridiculously quick against my chest, and I took that as a good thing.

Right now, I opened the flier, and looked at Klarissa.

“Don’t think I’m dumb, but what exactly is a school social?”

“It’s basically what the name says. The students from school get together, and meet at the hall. To socialise and dance and have fun. I’ve been to a few before, they’re pretty fun,”

“I don’t know. What if they’re there? And try to, you know,” I said, not wanting to use that awful word.

“We’ll stay the hell away from them, Lily. We can’t live our life in fear.”

“But what if-“

-what if something happened to mum while I was away?

It pained me to still not be able to talk to her about my life. I decided that I would open up soon. I needed to talk to someone about everything.

“What?” She asked.

“Doesn’t matter,” I said.

“If you’re going, I guess I’ll go,”

“Don’t feel pressured to come, though.” She said, placing her hand on my thigh.

“I’ll come,” I said, smiling.

“It could be fun.”

———

I wasn’t getting any better at school work. I didn’t seem to be learning very quickly. It was frustrating.

I still couldn’t read or write properly. I was caught up on things that everyone else had known how do so since they were six. I was sixteen, and I still couldn’t do the simplest things.

I appreciated it though. I appreciated the fact that mum had paid for me to go to school, and that I had teachers patient and willing enough to teach me what I should well and truly know by my age.

They were all so kind to me. So caring. It was like they genuinely wanted me to learn.

“Don’t lose hope, Lily. You’ll get there. Take your time,” Mrs Smithersen, my learning support teacher said, as I failed to write all the letters of the alphabet correctly.

I couldn’t believe that for most people my age it came naturally. Because it was so difficult for me.

After a few tries, I finally managed to write all the letters correctly.

“Good job!” Mrs Smithersen said, patting me on the back.

“Now put all these letters together to write words. Tell me what you want to write, and I’ll help you put it together,”

I grinned. Despite all the struggles in my life right now, I was glad that something was going well.

I continued writing, and Mrs Smithersen helped me as I put together a short note for mum. I wanted her to see how much school was helping me. It would make her so glad.