In the solitude of unrequited love, I have danced alone, weaving dreams that were doomed from the start. Each step I took towards you was like navigating a field of hidden dangers, filled with the risk of rejection and the dread of losing our bond...
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In the swift passage of three weeks, an unexpected chapter unfolded in Serra's life. Permission granted by her father, she embarked on a journey to NST University in the enchanting land of Efronia. Smoothly orchestrated through familial connections, her uncle's role in the foreign ministry paved the way for her academic pursuit.
A meticulously arranged three-year study visa awaited her, while her mother secured a decade-long visa. Dual citizenship became the family's next goal, already possessed by her father. Surprisingly exempt from linguistic tests due to her origins in a major English-speaking nation, the university itself played a role in facilitating this seamless transition.
Swift as the changing tides, her mother swiftly sold her downtown bakery, reaping profits, and decided to retain their homeland apartment. The impending move remained discreet, known only to close relatives and neighbors, casting an air of mystery around the Flinn family's departure.
As the two weeks flitted by, the impending graduation ceremony loomed large. Amidst the grandeur of the celebration, Serra's departure would remain a concealed secret from her unsuspecting classmates, including her dear friend Laila.
On the morning of the ceremony, she clutched a box filled with relics from her past, tokens of affection from David. A symbol of the emotional baggage she wished to shed, yet couldn't bring herself to discard entirely.
Seated in the audience hall, the orchestrated chaos of preparations buzzed around her. Greetings from fellow students, a water bottle from the student council president, and a designated spot in the front row – a testament to her academic prowess. Proud parents occupied the left side, beaming with satisfaction at their children's accomplishments.
Among them, Lily Wong and her scholarly parents radiated an air of accomplishment. Lily, ninth in the state and sixth in the school, sat elegantly, her father emitting an undeniable scholarly aura. For Serra, however, watching Lily triggered a maelstrom of conflicting emotions.
A long-forgotten incident resurfaced - a fall, a blame, and a video that purportedly proved Serra's guilt. Lily never directly accused her, but her father's actions and words implied Serra's wrongdoing. Amidst the graduation ceremony, Serra grappled with the complex web of accusations, unsure whether to believe in an innocent father's conviction or perceive a scheming partnership between Lily and her kin.
David, once the focal point of Serra's affection, now stood as a conflicted figure in her heart. Trust shattered, their history of unrequited love clashed with the harsh reality of betrayal. Facing death had reshaped her priorities; the love she once professed for David paled in comparison to the filial duty she held for her parents.
As the ceremony unfolded, she yearned for a fresh start, away from the shadows of accusations and broken trust. Her desire extended beyond a new academic chapter; she sought genuine love, untainted by doubt and betrayal. The possessiveness she harboured for her friendship with David, now deemed misplaced, fueled her determination to forge ahead into the unknown, leaving behind the tumultuous past.
