Peter had never been a morning person. He woke up slowly, his eyelids heavy, as though the weight of the world rested on them. The cold, stale air of the orphanage never helped. The room he stayed in with its bare, creaky furniture, the thin blanket that barely kept out the chill — it all felt the same every day. And today, as the bell rang to announce morning chores, it felt the same again.

  The other children were already bustling around the room, talking and laughing, but Peter stayed in his corner. He kept to himself these days, not wanting to deal with their teasing or questions. His gaze lingered on the window. Beyond the stone walls of the orphanage, the sky was overcast, clouds threatening rain. Everything felt damp, even the air.

  Then he remembered.

  The new girl.

  He heard them talking about her yesterday. He had overheard Tommy Griggs and Clara Dean whispering, their words full of gossip and anticipation. The new girl was coming today. They said they had heard she was mean, that she’d be trouble. Peter wasn’t sure how he felt about it. He didn’t know if he should care.

  Still, the thought gnawed at him.

  The nuns had told everyone to gather in the dining hall after breakfast, which meant the new girl must have arrived. Peter could feel the weight of the moment in his chest — the idea of something changing, something new, something unfamiliar. Change was never easy at St. Araminta’s.

  He dragged his feet down the hallway, feeling the eyes of the other children on him. As always, they snickered behind his back. Tommy shot him a quick, mocking glance as he passed. Peter ignored it, as he always did. His world was smaller than ever, the corners of his life confined to the broom closet, the library, and the spaces between the harsh walls of the orphanage.

  When Peter entered the dining hall, there was a murmur of voices — some whispers, some giggles. The adults were trying to herd the children into place, but there was one voice that caught Peter’s attention. It was a girl’s voice, sharp, a little irritated, like she wasn’t quite sure where she was yet.

  “Why are we here?” the voice demanded. “I want to go back”

  Peter looked across the room. There she was — the new girl.

  She was standing by the doorway, her posture stiff, her arms crossed as if she was already bracing herself against something. Her blonde hair was messy, tangled from the journey, and her face was scrunched up in a mix of annoyance and confusion. She didn’t look scared, like most new kids did when they arrived. She looked like she was ready to fight something — or someone.

  The nuns tried to guide her, but she didn’t seem interested in their directions. She glanced at them, then back at the other children. Peter watched her carefully. There was something different about her. She wasn’t like the others, who often smiled too much or tried too hard to fit in. This girl was more… reserved. She didn’t seem to care that they were all staring at her.

  Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  Elizabeth, noticing the girl’s discomfort, walked over to her. “This way, dear. We’ll get you settled.”

  The girl didn’t seem convinced. “Yeah, whatever.”

  Peter stared at her from across the room. There was something in her eyes — something sharp, something that reminded him of how he used to feel when he first arrived here. Like she didn’t belong, but didn’t care enough to try to change it.

  His mind wandered. What if she’s like the others? What if she’s just here to cause trouble, too? But a small part of him couldn’t help but wonder if maybe, just maybe, she was different. She seemed so... real. And Peter knew better than to trust appearances. Still, the thought lingered like a quiet ache in the back of his mind.

  When the nuns ushered the children to their seats at the long table, Peter found a spot near the edge. He didn’t want to be near the others — not today. But as he took his place, he saw the new girl glance over at him from across the room. Her eyes met his for a brief moment, and Peter quickly looked away, feeling a strange tightness in his chest.

  She didn’t smile, didn’t wave. She just stared at him with those same sharp, calculating eyes, like she was sizing him up. Peter couldn’t help but feel self-conscious. It wasn’t often that someone looked at him that way.

  The meal was long and quiet, filled with the clinking of silverware and the occasional chatter from the other children. Peter ate mechanically, pushing his food around on his plate, lost in his thoughts. He noticed Lily — that was her name, Lily — sitting at the far end of the table, still stiff and distant, as though she was trying to remain invisible.

  It wasn’t until later that day that Peter saw her again. He was in the hall near the stairs when he heard someone’s footsteps behind him. He turned just as Lily walked past, her eyes scanning the walls of the orphanage with a mix of disdain and curiosity. She was alone, no one else around.

  “What are you looking at?” she asked suddenly, her voice sharp.

  Peter froze. He hadn’t expected her to speak to him. She wasn’t like the others. She didn’t tease or make fun of him. She simply... spoke.

  He swallowed, unsure of how to respond. “Nothing,” he said, feeling suddenly awkward.

  Lily raised an eyebrow. “You sure? You were looking at me earlier.”

  Peter blinked. He hadn’t realized he’d been staring. “I wasn’t...”

  She smirked, a little challenge in her eyes. “I don’t care. Just don’t make it weird.”

  Peter nodded quickly, feeling the heat rise to his face. He had never been good at talking to other kids, especially when they weren’t being nice. But there was something about Lily that felt... different. He couldn’t quite place it.

  “Well, whatever,” Lily said with a shrug, turning away and walking down the hall. “I’m gonna find my room. Don’t follow me.”

  Peter watched her go, a strange mix of relief and disappointment settling in his chest. He didn’t understand it. Why had she spoken to him? It didn’t make sense.

  He stood there, lost in thought, until Elizabeth found him a little later.

  “Peter?” she said, concern in her voice. “Are you okay?”

  Peter nodded quickly, trying to shake the feeling of unease. “Yeah. I’m fine.”

  Elizabeth didn’t look convinced, but she didn’t press the matter. Instead, she placed a hand on his shoulder and gave him a soft smile. “Remember, I’m here if you need to talk. You don’t have to keep it all inside.”

  Peter didn’t say anything, but as he looked at Elizabeth, he felt a small sense of comfort. Maybe the world around him was changing, but for now, she was the one constant.

  The day passed, and Peter found himself thinking about Lily more than he wanted to. She was different. But different didn’t always mean better.