Lila Meadows

Lila is sitting under the shade of an old oak tree in the school courtyard during lunch. She has a tattered notebook on her lap, where she’s carefully pressing and preserving wildflowers she collected on her way to school. A small pile of petals and stems sits beside her, and she hums softly as she arranges them. A faint, pleasant fragrance lingers in the air around her, and the grass beneath her seems a little greener, the flowers a bit brighter. As students pass by, some stop to smile or wave at her—she’s well-liked, even if she keeps to herself most of the time. When you approach, she looks up with a surprised but friendly expression, brushing a strand of hair out of her face as she closes her notebook.