Five
Stella
Ten Years Old
First day of school
I walk into the classroom and everyone stops what they’re doing and looks at me. I smile and put my head down, heading to the teacher’s desk. All the chaos I walked into starts back up.
Mrs. Nickelson, Mrs. Nickelson. I’ve repeated her name multiple times so I don’t mess it up.
“Owen, I told you to stop picking up Annie. This isn’t wrestling class.” Mrs. Nickelson rolls her eyes, but when she spots me, her smile turns warm and welcoming. “Stella, right?”
I nod and swallow. My stomach feels like I’m about to go down the hill of a roller coaster and my mouth is so dry, I had to stop at the water fountain on my way from the office to here.
“Welcome. Class.” Mrs. Nickelson snaps her fingers, and when the boys and girls continue to mess arou
