Chapter 1 - the sky above the rice fields
That morning, the sound of roosters crowing echoed through the air, accompanied by the gentle rays of sunlight that marked the beginning of a new day.
As usual, Lara Anindia, a high school girl in her third year, woke up and began preparing for school.
Because her school was quite far from home, Lara always had to leave early so she wouldn’t be late.
Their house was made of wood, with three bedrooms, one bathroom, and a small kitchen that directly faced the living room.
That morning, Lara looked at the clock on the wall — it showed 6:10 a.m. She should already be ready to go. Wearing her white school uniform and a long gray skirt, she slung her backpack full of books over her shoulder.
She saw her mother sitting on the floor with a cup of coffee in front of her.
Yes — they didn’t have a sofa at home. Lara also noticed her younger sibling was still in the bedroom, probably still asleep since his school was closer. Her father wasn’t around either, most likely still resting after coming home late from working in the fields.
Lara walked over to her mother to say goodbye before leaving. Her mother handed her some pocket money, and Lara accepted it. She kissed her mother’s hand respectfully, saying her farewell, and her mother replied with a gentle smile and a quiet blessing.
That was what mornings usually looked like in their home. Lara rarely talked much with her parents.
The sky that morning was clear, with only a few clouds drifting above. The sun slowly rose, painting the quiet village in warm light. Lara started walking as usual.
In her village, there were other students who attended the same school, but most of them went by motorcycle or were taken by their parents.
Lara was different — she always walked. But she didn’t feel sad about it. She understood her family’s situation very well.
It took about thirty minutes on foot to reach her school, and that was already the nearest one from her home. She walked steadily, until finally, the school gate came into view.
She looked at her watch — 6:42 a.m.
A small sigh of relief escaped her lips; she wasn’t late. The school gate area was already busy with students and vendors. Lara stepped inside.
When she reached her classroom, many of her classmates were already there. She quietly walked to her seat — the third row from the front, on the right corner.
That day went on as usual. Lara wasn’t a popular student at school. She only had one close friend named Ani. During break time, she preferred to stay in class, studying or simply sitting in silence. She rarely went to the canteen or joined others to play.
For her, those quiet moments were the most peaceful part of the day.
