The truth was, everything seemed effortless for her, a consequence of having no friends at all. She resided in an unassuming small town with limited distractions and no passions to pursue, which only served to exacerbate the typical pitfalls of adolescence. The stress of academic turmoil and the lingering fatigue of burnout weighed heavily on her, but there was no one to confide in. The pervasive solitude proved to be a driving force behind her melancholy, slowly eating away at her spirit until it felt as though there was no escape. The mere thought of moving to another city filled her with a sense of revitalization, like the fresh air on a crisp autumn day. The innocence of youth propelled her to believe that a new locale could be the key to unlocking her true self, cultivating new relationships, and finding a sense of belonging. Regrettably, her mother remained a formidable obstacle to her aspirations, driven by fear of losing her beloved daughter. Maddie went to such lengths to ensure that Luna had no chance to venture beyond the confines of their home. She persisted in belittling her daughter's capabilities by planting doubts in her mind about the daunting enormity of thriving in big cities. Despite her mother's attempts to discourage her, Luna refused to give up on her dreams. She knew that her father believed in her and would support her no matter what. His unwavering faith in her abilities gave her the courage to stand up to her mother and pursue her goals. Even so, Luna found herself vexed that her own mother seemed unwilling to support her happiness, while her siblings did everything within their power to aid their mother and provide examples of why settling in a bustling city wasn't a feasible option. Though her brothers harbored love for her, there were times when they were consumed with envy, knowing that Luna, as the youngest of the siblings, was favored and consequently would receive the best experiences in life. In the past, Luna had taught herself to disregard the opinions of others, utilizing it as a defense mechanism for moments when her mother would berate her over trivial matters. However, the stress of graduating from school and the uncertainty of whether she could indeed leave behind her current situation rendered her defenseless and vulnerable to everything, leaving her crestfallen when her own family said that things would never work out.