At the school gate, Xiaoli gripped her backpack straps with both hands. Her knuckles went white. The metal ring swayed in the breeze.
"I'm going in today," she whispered. The straps pinched her fingers until they turned even whiter.
She pushed the door. The metal ring chimed— "Ding—" The door slowly swung open.
The playground was empty. The wind lifted a fallen leaf, then let it drift back down.
"Thump." The backpack hit the floor. She pulled up a chair and sat down.
She opened her textbook. The pages rustled softly. The chair gave a little "squeak."
The pencil rolled off the desk— "Tap." Just then, sunlight fell right on that page.
Xiaoli looked up. The classroom was quiet. Outside the window, the metal ring swayed, just once, gently.
