St. Robert CHS Student News
Mia Tamondong (9) l STAFF REPORTER
The rain beats steadily on her skin, threatening to wear her away completely. The hunger in her stomach fades to a dull ache, the steadiness of the pain numbing her entirely. She grasps at her clothes, fighting the urge to rip off the cloth, the only remnants of a life no longer hers.
Arya Dole (9) | STAFF REPORTER
I visited a city once when I was younger. The image of its streets still burdens me, and often I wonder what it is like now. Others older than me warned me not to go and told me that what I would see would weigh on my mind for my entire life. But I was still a kid, 20-something years old, seeking out the adventures in life. I didn’t know any better. It was supposedly a city transformed beyond recognition, shaped over time until it gave into darkness. The spectre of its past problems still haunted this metropolis. The drugs, homelessness, violence – all still there, but worse, as I later learned. When I recall the city now, I wonder how beautiful it used to be when it had a different face, with a different heartbeat. To think about the past seems ironically dystopian.
Angelina Wang (11) | Staff Reporter
I never won, a single game or contest. But every time I’d find you in a crowd of victors, you’d always pat me on the back and tell me “You’ll get ‘em next time, kiddo” While looking away, because you have always been a terrible liar, and you can’t possibly hide the disappointment in your eyes. Years have passed and my defeats have only grown. But no matter how hard I try, I just can’t seem to recall the color of your eyes. Would I still be your “kiddo” if I couldn’t live up to your dreams, only to be devoured by your nightmares? If I could only ever brush my fingers along the clouds and never say hello to the sky above? What if who I am now is the peak of my glory? Would you still be proud of me? Please. Could you look me in the eye, and tell me you’re still proud? Could you tell me, truthfully, that it’s okay to fall under the weight of these expectations? That it’s okay to feel what I’m feeling, to feel like drowning when I’m on dry land? Because I don’t think I could handle a single second of this nightmarish reality if you weren’t right behind me, supporting me, believing in me. Who am I without your faith? Who am I without the blood, sweat and tears that you have put into my future? But your blood paralyses me. And your sweat burns me. And I am drowning in your tears. I’m sorry. You based your entire life on the future of a stranger. How did you know I could do it? How did you believe in someone you've never met? How could you be so sure that I could make it? That I could do all that you could, and so much more? Because I’m looking in the mirror. and I don't think I can. You sacrificed everything for me. So look at me. At my short list of accomplishments, my selfishness, my failures, and my fears. Tell me, Mom, Dad. Was I worth it?
Melinda Li (9) | STAFF REPORTER
I unscrew the lid of the jar. Inside, a small sphere-like ball, sitting still inside. I pick it up. Blue. It feels like a jawbreaker. I pop it into my mouth and the flavours start pouring out. It’s very minty, so much so my mouth feels like the Arctic. I inhale and the cold gush of minty wind enters my throat.
Victoria Qiu (9) | Staff Reporter
Lily fidgeted with the bouquet in her hand, rearranging the flowers until they lay in a perfect harmony of lavender and white roses. Setting it down gently, she wandered to the mirror and checked her dress one last time. Besides the lace front tangling, there was almost nothing to be fixed. Before long, she found herself in front of her best friend’s door.
Welcome to the Game!
Take a look around yourself, and do not be afraid of where you are. Take the time to walk around, get accustomed to your body, and collect any items lying around. Avoid any unknown figures, as they can either be other players or spirits. Either way, encountering either probably will not end in your favour.
Victoria Qiu (9) | STAFF REPORTER
Have I ever told you about the train that takes you directly to your soulmate?
By Victoria Qiu (9) | STAFF REPORTER
I’ve always loved the city.
Bustling roads with gleaming street lights, the comforting chaos of navigating the crowded streets. The vendors and their stalls, the little cafés and coffee shops, even the crosswalks littered with everyday items. A pack of tissues, some newspaper clippings, occasionally a hair tie or even a bracelet left on the path.
Annabelle Liu (9) | STAFF REPORTER
The moment I said the word to betray our gods, my heart splintered into fiery embers, heart scorched with some sensation I had never felt before. I took it as a sign of my impending doom.
Annabelle Liu (9) | STAFF REPORTER
The rustle of the paper are the leaves in the wind; flowing freely, before the gust abruptly halts. They flip to a stop, gazing at the sinking of the sun. All that is around me is nothing but tranquility at its finest form—the gentle rush of the waves filling my ears, the soft grains of sand warming my feet, the trills of the birds echoing through the sky.