Chapker 2： Myskonefriends

Every morning, I wake up to the soft sound of birds outside my window. I stretch, rub my eyes, and smile, because a new day means new stories. I don’t like to rush. I like to take my time, to look at the sky, and to feel the wind on my face. People say I am slow, but I think the world is too fast. I want to stop and see everything clearly.

Before I go to school, I always open my shoebox under the bed. I say good morning to Moonstone, Ocean, and Star. They are quiet, but I know they are happy to see me. I take one small stone with me every day, just like a little lucky charm. It makes me feel brave when I am at school.

At school, my favorite class is English. I love the way the words sound—light and beautiful. I love writing my name: Yana Lu. It sounds like a name from a faraway story. My English teacher always smiles at me and says I am good at it. That makes my heart warm and bright.

But math is still hard for me. Sometimes, I stare at the numbers and they look like little dancing ants. I try and try, but I still can’t understand. When that happens, I lower my head and touch the stone in my pocket. It is warm and quiet. It tells me: It’s okay. You don’t have to be good at everything. I am good at writing. I am good at imagining. I am good at being me.

After school, I walk home slowly. I look for new stones, listen to the wind, and talk to myself in English. I practice saying, "Hello, my name is Yana Lu. I have a stubborn and fun soul. I want to be a writer."

The sky turns pink and orange, like a painting. I pick up a new small stone. It is white and smooth, like a little cloud. I decide to name it Cloud. Now my stone friends are four: Moonstone, Ocean, Star, and Cloud. They are growing with me, just like my stories.

When I get home, I take out my phone. I open my book again: Qing He Yan Memories. The words I wrote yesterday are still there, shining softly. I touch the screen gently. This is my world. No one can take it away from me. No one can tell me to stop dreaming.

Tonight, I will write more. I will write about my stone friends. I will write about the pink sky. I will write about the girl who never gives up. Because I know, one day, all these small, warm things will become a great big story. And everyone will read it, and remember my name

— Yana Lu.