Lucia stared in disillusion at the madness of the mess hall. The long tables had been set aside and uneven string of coloured paper hung from the rafters in a scrambled attempt to make a rainbow. Folded paper flowers were haphazardly pasted on the walls, mostly at hip height. Front and centre in the room, the children of the Spranta Institute held hands together; the smaller ones were barely containing their tears, but the older ones stood firm and yelled: “Good luck on your trip, Lucia!”
Lucia stifled a laugh. “What are you doing? I’m only leaving for college tomorrow.”
“They insisted,” a failiar voice said from behind. Lucia turned to meet the gaze of Alastair, her warden for the past eight years. His cat-like eyes were overcast and his lips pursed. Lucia knew that was his ‘I’m sad but can’t show it’ face. “I do agree a farewell dinner is in order for you as much as anyone else, Lucia.”
Something tugged at Lucia’s heartstrings. She was leaving the place she had learned to call ‘home’ to venture out on her own. The thought of abandoning safety to find her life was exciting but, in that moment, it felt bitter.
Her face must have revealed something because Alastair quickly smiled and put his cold, vampiric hand on her shoulder. “Come, let everyone give you your farewell presents.”
He beckoned her forward towards the group of children, who all had small trinkets in their hands. As she walked past them, she heard their best wishes, one by one.