A chilling wave of anxiety and excitement runs up my spine as my eyes, still glazed from slumber, climb the towering brick building. It’s hostile windows set the blinding sun straight into my eyes awakening them to a new day. Despite the glare of the rising sun these windows are cold as ice, dark as night. These windows hide secrets, this building meant as a gateway to the future holds the burden of these jaded windows. Looking down to the symbolic cloth draped around me, thinking these will soon be my scared label, my facts to judge from. I frown, but hope I might find my way in this new place full of the older but not much wiser. A whiff of fresh detergent and fragrant shampoo comes over me as a chaotic stampede begins to form. Young faces fill my brain; their silhouettes are all I can see. My nervous feet find themselves stepping upon new ground. Concrete cement hit my new shoes. My shaking hands hit the door; I have to use all my body weight to hold this portal to the new world, open. Out stretched in front of me, miles of linoleum tile laugh in my face, seeming to smell my insecurity. I clutch my new backpack, I at that moment realize I still haven’t put it on since I left the safety of my nurturing mothers car. Light as air it rests on my shoulders, not yet exhausted by the days of torture it will soon submit to. Low self esteem my crutch; my weakness kicks in as I feel the penetrating stares of those who are used to these halls. Burning into my neck their hatred fills me. I will soon have to choose my enemies too. I frantically try to find some one on my side, a friend. No such luck. All I see are the intimidating stares of ones who are superior; they own this territory. Once walking unsurely turns to a slow paced run. My heart is pounding in my chest seeming to push out the perspiration on my forehead. I suddenly bump into a group of well dressed, makeup covered girls. Their fake smiles turn to deadly smirks. I look away, too scared to say sorry. I yelp, suddenly, finding my mind numb and lethargic, unable to see my surrounds; the stinging of the jerk from my back is my only clue. I’m falling backwards ready to hit the now hysterical tiles. My head now swimming in anger, hopelessness, rage! I hit the waxed ground. “I’m dead I’m dead”! My thoughts scream. My sight says different. For huddled overhead surrounding my limp body I see their cackling faces, hear their heartless taunts, harsh words, they pour their sewage upon my inferior body. I feel sharp pains in my sides, kicking?? Are they kicking me? I am then possessed by a demon of hatred. Ferocious, my rage is my energy. A boost of determination fills me. A hidden willpower exposes itself to me. Saving me from my trauma. I pull myself up staring at them all, the soulless ghosts surrounding me. Fresh, and clean, now dirtied and broke in, ripped and shredded my symbol turns to war fatigue. Satisfaction fills my wounded heart. Relieved of my stresses my mouth forms a wicked smile toward them. My fury shoots daggers out of my windows exposing my secrets, they are dry, too passive, to even notice the cold-blooded abuse. I want so badly to scream, let out my disturbed emotion; revenge pounds the walls of my psyche. I push the compulsive foolish thought away, my wisdom to powerful to be overcome by immaturity. A deafening buzz brings me back to reality. I am still standing before the wretched fiends. “Don’t be late to first class.” My little voice whispers sarcastically. I grab my belongings spread across the baffled flooring, no longer laughing but silent in amazement and respect. I have tamed these halls. Now the respect my individuality, my difference, my rebellion. I stroll to my destination. A song of victory puts me to a march, I won the battle leaving the ones older but not wiser drop-jawed, still transfixed upon their assumed victim, I disappear through a more promising door marked with a simple number matching the first one on a torn page of paper still stranded, forgotten in the halls, marking my first day.