Songlight By Moira Buffini

The narrator, a frail seventeen-year-old, prepares to leave her home for the last time under the guise of a simple shopping trip. Her ill-fitting coat and small stature highlight her vulnerability as she steps out, determined to escape her oppressive life. The smell of her stepmother’s cooking reminds her of the suffocating environment she's leaving behind.

On her way to the market, which is not her true destination, the narrator connects with Cassandra, a nurse who once saved her life and revealed her true identity as a Torch, a being with special powers. The narrator’s ability to communicate telepathically with Cassandra through "songlight" offers a sense of hope and connection, contrasting with her otherwise lonely existence. Cassandra guides her toward freedom, assuring her that the journey, while dangerous, is the right choice.

As the narrator approaches the tram station, her exhaustion and fear are palpable, but the thought of being with Cassandra fills her with determination. However, a chilling realization dawns when she sees a figure near Cassandra—a man who, like her, is a Torch but has been captured and forced into betrayal. The narrator's hope for freedom is suddenly shadowed by the looming threat of being discovered.

This passage is a poignant blend of fear, hope, and the painful reality of living in hiding, capturing the narrator's internal struggle and her desperate longing for freedom. 📚❤️