Cathy

She walked to class alone holding her shoulder bag with both hands wishing for some reassurance that she had made the right choice. Her feet having a difficult time finding their way on the uneven cobblestones weren’t giving her much confidence. After waking up late, having to wait thirty minutes before a shower was available and missing breakfast, she was near tears as the beautiful ivy-covered Ashvelle Hall came into view.

Cathy wanted nothing more than to sit on a bench near the rose bushes and stare at the old building that had aged with such grace but she had no time. As she finally reached the top of the landing before opening the door she stopped herself and took a deep breath inhaling the sweetness in the air left by the night’s rain.

She decided to give herself a little pep talk. This is it, don’t stop now. This is my house – I have to protect it. And she laughed as the words from one of her favorite movies, Home Alone filled her head. What a nice pep talk Cathy, not even remotely related to this situation – you’re about as far away from your house as you can get! She looked around uncertainly hoping no one else had seen her laughing by herself. That’s all she needed was someone to see her staring at the door laughing and thinking she didn’t have a flight of stairs that went all the way up.

Alright Cathy, enough procrastinating! Open that door and head in! She saw herself reaching for the door and pushing it forward as if in slow motion. Then she was in and it was if she had passed through a barrier. She didn’t hesitate. She walked to her classroom swiftly and with purpose in her steps.