Five main buildings made up the heart of Starkhouse Math-science, English-history, the gym, the dining hall, and the library all grouped together in a loose cluster like a five pointed star.
It was an enourmaous quad and a series of curving walk ways connected the five buildings to eachother before the cobblestones snaked down a hill and farther out to the student dorms and other buildings that made up the rest of the lush academy grounds. Here and there tall trees spread their leafless limbs wide and open.
No one frequented the quad anymore due to the snowfall precipitation that surrounded the area. The open patio wrapped all the way around the building.
Wrought iron tables with glass countertops and chairs perched on the patio so students could sit outside and study when the weather was warm and sunny.
Now mid-december and with no sign of clear skies any day soon from what I could see, the tables were concealed in a blizzard frenzy with a thin layer of ice that ran off the sides of the glass wrought iron tabletops the iceicles hanging off the edges.
The quadrangle resembled what the inside of a snowglobe would look like if snowglobes were less whimsicle and more ice cavern.
I move along and didn't stop walking until I came upon a familiar octangular in shape building. Here too were Gargoyles their mouths open in silent angry snarls.
The figures were everywhere I looked from the wide flat steps that led up to the front of the balcony to the sloping of the roof.
And they were so detailed and lifelike that they actualy seemed like they'd been real at one time, real-monsters crawling all over the building until something or someone had frozen them in place.
Once I got to the library I eyed the gargoyle parched on either side of the grey stone steps.
The statues loomed over me and both gargoyles sat at attention heads high.
Ignoring them completely I walk up the small flight of duo stairs without touching the handrail encased in a chunk of frozen water.
Using my sleeve I pull on the frozen door handle but it didnt budge open.
Looking past the glass I use my hands as make shift binoculars to see if I could perhaps gain a better picture of what was ging on but as far as my eyes could tell it was pitch dark and there was no movement coming from the inside.
I was growing anxious because nobody was around to tell me why the library was closed and how come i'd missed the announcement. I hadn't used the restroom all day and my immediate concern was that I would be late for my independant study and there was nothing I could do about that.
With no evidence of any movement I turn away from the building with my head down, insert my hands in my pockets, and sigh. Sullen and forlorn I put one foot in front of the other and descend from the top of the stairway.
Once I hit base level I wrap my arms in front of my buttoned up heavy coat, because I was shaking, and look around the desolated stretch of a once upon a time well-established stamping ground but see nothing out of the ordinary.
It was barren save for myself. No librarian to give me that 'you're here again' look.
No classmates running late to class. I was cold. So very very cold and tired.
I wanted to go to my dorm, to take a bath and to forget.
I wither underneath my jacket in the storm. The only noise that my ears could possibly detect was the howling of wind which was pretty loud so if someone were yelling at me from a distance I wouldn't be able to hear them in the first place.
I felt paper thin and in spite of all my fears nothing kept me upright and doing well.
I was used to being alone but at that moment, standing in the middle of a snowy windstorm, my spine shivering with empty hope for my soul I tumbled emotionally and mentally as I digested the finality of it all.
For the first time I aw myself for what I was. And that frightened me.
If I could face the dark and make amends I would welcome my shadows and surrender to my anxieties. If only.
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