A deafening crack of thunder split the morning sky.
Melissa jolted awake, her heart pounding violently against her chest. She sat upright in bed, her breathing uneven as another rumble echoed through the clouds.
For a moment, she simply stared into the darkness of her room, her fingers clutching the blanket.
"This stupid feeling", She muttered
Exhaling shakily, she brush a few strands of black hair away from her face.
Rain tapped steadily against her bedroom window, while flashes of lightning illuminated the pale walls every few seconds.
Melissa had never liked thunderstorms. Every time lightning struck, an unexplainable fear settled deep inside her chest. She shook her head, forcing herself to ignore the feeling.
"Ahhh," she groaned closing her eyes wanting to sleep.
"Melissa!!, don't let me come there !!!, your final examinations began in three days, and you're still sleeping!?!", Her mother voiced echoed from downstairs.
"Fuck", She reached for her phone on the bedside table.
7:48 A.M.
Her golden eyes widened.
"What?!"
She threw the blanket aside and nearly stumbled as she jumped off the bed. Before she could take two steps—
"Melissa!", Her mother's voice echoed again, "If you're not out of that room in five minutes, you're going to miss your first lecture!"
"I'm awake!" Melissa shouted back while frantically searching for her towel.
"You said that ten minutes ago!"
She groaned, "I'm coming!".
She rushed into the bathroom.
Warm water ran over her skin, washing away the last traces of sleep. Standing before the mirror afterward, she studied her reflection.
She was an ordinary twenty-year-old college student, with shoulder-length black hair, a delicate face, and despite her average height, people often complimented her graceful appearance. But there was her hot temper, that makes people move away from her.
And then there were her eyes, Golden.
Bright enough to attract unwanted attention.
Melissa sighed before opening the small case on the sink. Inside rested a pair of dark brown contact lenses. She carefully placed one over each eye. Within seconds, the brilliant gold disappeared, replaced by warm brown irises.
Much better. No questions. No curious stares. Just another student trying to survive college.
She smiled faintly, grabbed her backpack, and hurried downstairs.
"What took you so long?", Her mom asked, setting the pancakes on the plates.
Kissing her mom on the cheeks, she sat grabbing the fork , "There was this annoying color i have to get rid off".
Her mother paused, placing the pan on the table carefully.
"I know it's hard to be different Mel. But you have to embrace it one day", Her mom sat beside her looking at her tenderly.
Sighing, she dropped the fork, "I don't want to talk about this mom".
"But eventually we have to. I know that you know that you very special and...."
"I might do great things and eventually be a great person. I get it. I want to be this way and I love being this way", She looked at her mom, "This golden eyes is just a distraction and a wall. It makes me look weak and a target to be bullied, so without it I am strong and can't be bullied and I won't be bullied. So this is the life I choose", she quickly said taking her backpack and hurried out of the house as the rain starts.
Sighing, her mom looked at the unfinished meal with a sad expression, "Please Lord look after her".