Lily entered her new room. She didn't even bother to take in her surroundings. She was somewhere place else. Thoughts of her mother and father swirled through her mind. She threw her suitcase and dufflebag on the bed and changed from her comfy plane clothes to a simple pair of jean capris and a purple t-shirt. She ran a hand through her hair, and found it full of knots and snarls. Sighing, she opened up her duffle bag and dug around for a few second, before emerging with a brush. She pulled it briskly through her long locks a couple times before tying it back with a red ribbon. She was just about to leave her room when she remembered her mother's gift. She rushed back to her bed, but this time she opened her suitcase. She pulled out a small, plain white box. On top was a sticky note with the word Love written in her mother's handwriting on it. She opened the box and pulled out a white lily. It was real, of course. Lily's... gift allowed the flower to remain alive. At least, that's what she and her mother thought, since her old one was at least a year old and it was still alive and a vibrant pink. Lily took off her glasses and wiped her eyes which had began to water. This next chapter in her life was going to be hard, she had no doubt of that, but she would endure. Besides, things could only get better. Securing the lily in her hair, Lily walked towards her door, shut off the light, and exited into the hall.
