1 The Daffodil.

As the sun rises, campus slowly comes to life with students heading to their first classes of the day. Dorms and residence halls buzz with activity as students get ready, some savoring a quick breakfast or a cup of coffee while others may rush out the door, clutching their books and backpacks.

The walk to class often offers a quiet moment of reflection or a chance to catch up with friends. Lecture halls and classrooms fill up, marking the beginning of a day filled with learning and discovery. For many, these mornings are a blend of sleepy starts, hurried preparations, and the anticipation of the day's academic and social engagements.

The morning sun cast a warm glow over the campus as three friends, Jain, Serin, and Hazel, made their way to class, chatting animatedly.

"My dad bought me a new mobile!" Jain said with a radiant smile, holding up her sleek new phone.

"Wow, your dad must love you a lot," Serin said with a sigh. "My parents are so strict. They'd never let me get something like that." She sighed again, her shoulders slumping slightly.

"Hey, Hazel!" Jain suddenly called out, playfully smacking Hazel on the arm. Hazel had been walking beside them, lost in her thoughts.

"Huh? What?" Hazel looked at them with wide eyes. "Is something wrong?"

"Where are you? What are you thinking about?" Jain stared at her with a mix of curiosity and concern.

"Nothing," Hazel replied with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Let's go to class. It's time."

They quickened their pace, entering the bustling building and slipping into their English classroom just as the bell rang. The first period was led by their English teacher, Ms. Green, who began explaining a poem with her usual enthusiasm.

"Okay, students, please submit the assignments I gave you last week," Ms. Green said after wrapping up her lesson.

Students rummaged through their bags, pulling out their assignments and handing them to the teacher. Ms. Green counted the papers, her brow furrowing. "Only 29 assignments? Who is absent today?"

"Everyone is present, ma'am," one student responded.

"Then who didn't do the work?" Ms. Green scanned the room, her gaze landing on Hazel, who slowly stood up, her face flushed with embarrassment.

"Expected," Ms. Green said with a hint of exasperation. The other students snickered. "The most useless student of mine. Why do you even come here every day? No studies, no sports, no arts... Finish your assessment before noon. Stupid!" She stormed out of the classroom, leaving Hazel standing there, mortified.

Hazel sank back into her seat, her eyes stinging with unshed tears. Jain leaned over, whispering, "Did you forget to do the assignment?"

"Yes," Hazel murmured, forcing a smile.

"Always smiling through everything, huh? Silly girl," Jain said, shaking her head. "Come on, let's go to the library. We'll help you write it."

The three friends headed to the library, determined to turn the morning around. As they settled into a quiet corner, Jain and Serin helped Hazel with her assignment, their camaraderie providing the support Hazel needed to get through the day.

***********

As the sun began to set, the three friends said their goodbyes with smiles. Jain's mom arrived to pick her up, while Serin drove off in her own car. Once they had gone their separate ways, Hazel walked to her home, a small, old house nestled among a yard filled with a variety of plants.

Upon entering her home, Hazel quickly changed out of her school clothes and into a uniform. She then made her way to the nearby bread-making company where she worked from 5 PM to 10 PM. An orphan, Hazel kept her personal life private, and no one at college knew much about her circumstances.

As she entered the company, the manager, a man with a reputation for being a pervert, looked up and smirked. "Good evening, Ms. Hazel. How are you? You look good today," he said, his eyes lingering on her.

"Thank you, sir," Hazel replied curtly, avoiding eye contact as she hurried to start her work.

Hours later, Hazel joined the line of workers waiting for their payment. When her turn came, the manager counted out her cash, his fingers brushing against her hand as he handed it over. Hazel suppressed a shudder, quickly counted the money, and headed home, exhaustion weighing heavily on her.

On her way back, she passed by a grand mansion, its lights always shining and the grounds impeccably maintained. Hazel had never seen anyone enter or leave the mansion, but it always looked pristine.

"Who lives here?" Hazel wondered aloud, gazing at the opulent building. "Please adopt me or give me a job in your mansion," she added with a wry laugh, imagining a life far removed from her own.

She continued on her way, the mansion fading from view as she approached her humble home. Despite her tiredness, Hazel found solace in the quiet evening, the stars twinkling above, offering a brief respite from her daily struggles.