𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐑𝐎𝐒𝐄𝐒 𝐂𝐑𝐎𝐖𝐍 🥀

The bedroom curtains had been pulled back, letting the uninviting light in and illuminating much of the room. Especially, the bed that was in his Center. The amber eyes opened slowly with some difficulty, the alarm clock on her cell phone hadn't even gone off and someone was already doing that job perfectly. She let go of the pillow she slept clinging to every night and lifted her body a little, so she could have a better view of whoever was in her room, in her privacy. Although she already imagined who it would be.

- Wake up, Selena. The day has already dawned. - said a female voice, authoritative and somewhat harsh.

The girl's eyes rose even higher, managing to see the woman in the white dress above her knees, perfectly marking her waist that no one would imagine she was a mother of four. Her brown hair falling like waterfalls… It wasn't really the first sight Selena would want to see at dawn, but she wasn't in that control. I mean, she wasn't in control of anything.

- Mom... it's six in the morning... - grumbled the girl, as she threw her head once more on the comfortable pillow.

- Your course starts at half past seven, you need to dress up and be presentable to get there. Waking up late and leaving in a hurry is not something we enjoy in our family. - replied the woman as she turned to the sleepy girl with arms crossed. - It's a cold day, you can go on foot with your friends... - said the mother, making noise with her heels as she left her daughter's room, closing the door soon after.

All Selena didn't want was to get out of that bed that day, she just wanted to stay at home, lie down, and not go to a prep course for medical students since that wasn't what she wanted for herself. The Seymours, his family, were a traditional family of renowned doctors. His grandfather had been a brilliant doctor, but he was kind and considerate, especially to his grandchildren. Recalling this, Sel felt a little sadness as she remembered that he had passed away three years ago... the only person she felt really comfortable being around. Then her father had also graduated in Medicine, he wasn't the most sociable surgeon there was but he was brilliant at handling the scalpel, she couldn't deny it. As a doctor, and he did what he had to do, but in private, he wasn't the best father.

And finally, in later generations, his two older brothers had graduated the year their grandfather had died. There were parties, drinks, celebrations... But no tribute to the one who had been the motivation for everyone. And her sister, well, she was still struggling in college. There were a lot of reports, seminars, studies during the night and for sure that was screwing up her psyche... But she wanted to prove herself and she wanted to prove to her friends. parents that she could also be a successful family doctor. Even if it cost your mental health.

Selena didn't want that, but there was pressure on her back. Her parents wanted all their children graduated and doctors, but Selena was only 19…almost 20, but still 19. What problem would it be if she just wanted to be a normal 19-year-old girl? Go out with friends? Go to parties? Why couldn't she?

She decided not to have to face her mother's interminable bad temper and grudgingly got out of bed, heading to her room's private bathroom and doing her morning hygiene. She brushed her long, wavy caramel-colored hair and dressed properly. A pair of light blue jeans, a long, wide-sleeved shirt, very comfortable and little makeup. Just pink lipstick and some mascara. Selena was not a tall girl, on the contrary, she was a measly 1.60 m tall and that's why she always liked to go out with a higher shoe, sometimes platform.

She went down to the living room of her house, where her family had finished having breakfast and was chatting without much spirit. Your family, in parts. Only her father and mother were there and Selena let out a heavy sigh.

- Eat something, your friends must be arriving. - Ordered the mother, looking at some fashion magazine.

- I'm not very hungry... - Selena replied calmly, she was not a difficult girl, even because it was difficult to be difficult in a family that barely let her breathe with so many demands and so little human warmth.

She hadn't known what a hug from her mother was since she was ten years old, from her father so she never knew what a hug was from him. Selena didn't charge that, she preferred not to talk, but every day with them was like they were strangers to her... very strange...

- You need to eat, Selena. It is not good to go out fasting. - his father warned him without taking his eyes off his newspaper. Methodical and direct, but without taking his eyes to his daughter.

The girl didn't feel like starting an argument, she just wanted to get out of the house. Then he went to the kitchen and helped himself to his parents' watchful eyes. Selena was skinny, didn't have as many curves as her mother and had white skin that sometimes looked pale, but if she was sick then she'd tell them, wouldn't she?

Selena helped herself to toast and a glass of natural juice, when she heard the doorbell of her house warning that her two friends had arrived. She hurried to finish that breakfast, even though it wouldn't last long in her stomach. She ran to get her lavender bag, a little too small. She couldn't wait to go out, but she walked to the bathroom and saw a moment of weakness in the toilet... She didn't wanted, not this time of morning… But she needed to, she was feeling it all coming before her stomach could process it.

Breakfast, even if simple, was left out. Selena threw up, feeling her body shake...

He wiped his mouth quickly, getting up from the floor and flushing it. His parents couldn't have suspected, it wouldn't be something the Seymours would want to hook up with a kid who wasn't a college graduate. Eating disorder? The Seymours would never understand, let alone care, so Selena kept that secret to herself.

- I don't know what happened to your mother letting you go to the course on foot with us... She almost never lets you. - warned one of Selena's friends, a girl with short dark hair and a TV series sweatshirt.

- She said the day was cold... - Selena commented as she felt the really cold breeze touch her hair. - But I believe they didn't have time to drop me off at the course today... my older brother arrives today from a trip.

- George? Hadn't he gone to France? asked Selena's other friend, this time a blonde girl, with her hair tied in a gentle ponytail and big blue eyes.

- Yes, but apparently he will be back for my mother's birthday. - Selena replied.

- Usually, only Vincent comes to her birthday.

- And your sister? Crazy Caitlyn? Will not come?

- She'll start her residency in a few months... I doubt she'll come back now. - Selena revealed with a crestfallen voice. - Well, you must already know that the movement in my house will be very intense this week...

- But aren't you going to the course's end-of-year party? It's next week!

- I can not. - said the girl with some difficulty. - But we can have a sleepover at home...

- Your mother scares me, but we can do this anyway.

- Charlotte is right, Selena. Your mother is not very friendly. - the blonde smiled. - But we can do it for you, to make you have some fun. Let's buy candy, snacks, put your stereo to play, let's have a lot of fun!

- You don't exist! - Selena smiled for the first time that morning, the company of her friends was the only thing that made her feel good during the day. Unfortunately, she could only see them in the morning at course time. - Look! A tiara of flowers there on the floor!

Selena spotted a thin headband, with some rosettes decorating it. It was a common thing for girls wore in those days, even though Sleepy Hallow was a very

small and quiet, some fashionable things took a while to get there. But Selena saw on the Internet beautiful images of girls with those tiaras and had never stopped to talk to her mother who wanted one of those. She was lying on the asphalt and Selena hurried off the sidewalk, wearing her clogs so she could catch her.

- Selena! You are in the middle of the street! cried Charlotte.

- I'll just get it! - warned the girl, bending down to pick up the tiara.

The last thing she heard was the sound of a very loud horn and a thud to her body, knocking her a few feet away.

SELENA!