The elegant, dust-pink bedroom, a sanctuary of a young girl's dreams, was slowly invaded by the persistent whispers of a new day. “Rori, are you ready yet?” her mother’s soft voice floated through the door, followed by a gentle knock. A groan escaped Rori from beneath a fortress of blankets, her wild, dark chocolate hair springing free as she squeaked, “Mom! Can I just stay a couple more days?”

Her mother, a tall, slender woman with sleek black hair, sat on the edge of the bed. “Now Rori, we go over this every time. Your education is very important to your future.” Rori pulled the comforter back over her head, letting out a muffled scream into her pillow before springing out of bed like a jack-in-the-box. She grabbed her uniform, a khaki skirt and powder blue button-down, and dashed into the bathroom, leaving a crumpled trail of pajamas behind her.

Downstairs, the formal dining area was a stark contrast to the rest of the house, stuffy and cold. Henry, her mother’s husband, sat stiffly at the head of the table. “What have I told you about running around the house barefoot, Rori?” he boomed, even though he was not a large man. Rori slumped, rolling her eyes. “That I might step on a crack and break my mother’s back,” she retorted snobbishly, reaching for bacon and a muffin.