sitting on the windowsill, looking towards the horizon. A light, dark and ephemeral tear ran down my cheek and I lowered my head. Even Gleam, my golden retriever, seemed unusually boring. I tried to help her by forcing her to smile, but I couldn't; I burst into tears. Gleam was the only real friend – besides my parents – I ever had. She understood me more than anyone. She let out a soft moan, and for the first time today, I showed a slight smile. After all, that day was a day of pure misery. It's okay, Gleam,” I said with more courage than I really had. I looked at the clock: had it only been an hour? It felt like a whole year of suffering. “Breakfast is ready,” my mother’s soft voice said from the kitchen. “Lisserrel!” “I’m coming,” I said, trying not to sound too weak. It took all my strength to force myself to calmly enter the room. I hoped that at least the others at school would understand me and leave me alone for once. I went to school with this new hope. I was completely wrong. From the first minute I walked into the classroom, groups of girls and boys started laughing. Lamara came closer and walked towards me. Who was she, you ask? Well, you could say she was my nemesis. She shouted, "Haha, I thought only you were this pathetic, but so was your father...?" Most of the others started laughing; why not ? Most of the school was Verosi. I was furious, but I remembered the promise I made to my father that I would be humble. “Great,” I thought. “I have to go through another horrible day of school.” After school, I desperately walked home. I just lay on the bed, thinking. It all happened too quickly. I closed my eyes and was back in the past. I was in bed, when I was woken up by my mother...... in the middle of paper...... I will if they find us? How are we going to save them? All sorts of questions were racing through my head. After all, what was mentioned wasn't even worth a pinch of salt. All those doubts and what ifs drained my courage and strength, the two things I needed most at the time, well, besides companionship. I still had Gleam running beside me, more tired than ever. The truth is it was my fault. Although she often wanted to, I never let Gleam run such a long distance. I was too worried about his health. “Sorry Gleam, you know, for not letting you run. Well, at least it’ll be some exercise. And I promise I’ll let you run after we get home…” I paused .I didn't want to lie, but I didn't want to scare her more. It was really the only time I saw Gleam strong and brave, weak and afraid. to know what we were up against.