The world would never change, not the way she wished for it to, not quick enough, and though she knew that she'd die someday, having given her life away for the greater good of this world, to help save a life or two, just to do something good and right, she knew that it wouldn't be enough to change the world. It broke her heart to know that she would forever be climbing up that hill and losing the battle. But Beth chose to stay optimistic and hopeful for a miracle, for a day when the world would be more caring, more understanding. It was evident in an everyday smile of a stranger that kindness was possible, it just had to spread quicker like wild fire, someone, somehow, somewhere had to be thinking this very same thing with her now, and wanting to make that change with her.
Her thoughts were drifting beyond the shadows behind her and soon Beth was able to take a deep breath as she crossed the courtyard and reached for the door of her building. Still, something didn't feel right and she turned one last time to glance over her shoulder and to the rooftops again, a feeling as though she were being watched by some unseen being, probably just my imagination she thought with a smile and shake of her head, but she never did take that step indoors, instead she glanced back again at the rooftops and thought of everyone she'd met since arriving at Alden. She thought of the girl with pink hair and an infectious laughter, she thought of the boy who'd once been so angry with her and how he was never seen again, it caused a furrow in her brow for some unknown reason, but then she thought of the tall dark figure with the pale blue eyes and the way that he'd somehow caught her off guard not so long ago. She wished that she could share her thoughts on all of these wonderful people with those back home, but she feared they'd never fully understand... Danny wouldn't, and that knowledge left her with an uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach. She'd already begun to change so much since the acceptance letter arrived and now she worried how she'd ever return home to him, but she loved him, so she wasn't ready to think like that, not yet. Maybe someday she just might be able to make him see what she saw when she looked at everyone here at Alden and throughout the world. And rather than heading in, Beth shut the door behind her, turned on her heels and stole a seat upon the steps, it would be hours before she could sleep as a result of the three cups of coffee had while at work, and besides, the night air felt more right than ever.