Aniyah stood rigid beneath the sprawling branches of the oak tree, its leaves whispering secrets she wasn’t quite ready to hear. The quiet suburban street stretched ahead, a strange blend of comfort and strangeness that gnawed at her nerves. Moving here meant leaving everything behind—her old life, her friends, and most painfully, her father.

Her mother’s gentle voice pulled her from her thoughts. "It’s going to be okay, Aniyah. We’re starting fresh. This town—this school—it’s all a chance to build something new." Mrs. Ross’s eyes glimmered with a mix of hope and determination.

Aniyah forced a tight smile, her hazel eyes flickering with guarded resolve. "I know, Mom. I just... It’s harder than I thought. New faces, new places, and all these memories that don’t want to let me go." She tucked a strand of long black hair behind her ear, hiding the tremor in her voice.

"You’re stronger than you realize," her mother assured, reaching out to squeeze her hand. "And I’ll be right beside you every step of the way."

As the sun dipped lower, casting longer shadows, Aniyah inhaled deeply. Beneath her uncertainty, a quiet strength began to stir, the hidden part of herself waiting for the right moment to emerge.