School Days 1 -

The bell rang. Not a bell, really—more like an electronic chime, polite but firm. Mrs. Kaur clapped twice. “Welcome to your first day,” she said. And just like that, the adventure began.

The first day of school always carries a strange weight, even when you’ve done it a dozen times before. But this time—Year 1, real school, not just playgroup—felt different. My new backpack was too big, or maybe I was too small. Its empty compartments smelled like plastic and possibility. school days 1

Mom held my hand a little tighter than usual as we walked the cracked pavement toward the big red gates. “You’ll be fine,” she said. I didn’t believe her, but I nodded anyway. The bell rang