CHAPTER 01
Kenna Will woke up early, as she always did. The sun wasn’t even up yet, but the small room she shared with her younger brother was already filled with the sounds of life outside the roosters crowing, the faint hum of neighbors starting their day. Kenna lay still for a moment, staring at the cracked ceiling above her bed. Her heart felt heavy, but it also burned with something else hope.
She had a dream. A big one. To become a doctor.
But dreams like that didn’t come true for girls like her. Girls who lived in tiny houses made of wood and tin, whose families struggled to put food on the table every night. Still, Kenna couldn’t let go of the idea. It had been planted in her mind years ago when she watched her best friend die from a fever that could have been treated if only they’d had access to proper medicine. That memory stayed with her, haunting her, pushing her forward.
“Kenna!” Her mother’s voice broke through her thoughts. “Get up! You’re going to be late for school.”
Kenna sighed and pushed herself out of bed. She quickly changed into her simple cotton dress and tied her curly hair back with a ribbon. In the kitchen, her mother stood over a pot of boiling water, stirring weak tea. Her face looked tired, older than her years.
“Mama,” Kenna began hesitantly, sitting down at the rickety wooden table. “I’ve been thinking… about applying to medical school.”
Her mother froze, the spoon clattering against the side of the pot. For a long moment, there was silence. Then her mother turned around, her eyes sharp and angry.
“Medical school?” she snapped. “Do you know how much that costs? We can barely afford bread, Kenna. Why do you keep talking about these impossible things?”
“It’s not impossible,” Kenna said softly, though her voice trembled. “I can work hard. I’ll find scholarships. I’ll…”
“You need to stop dreaming and start living in the real world!” her mother interrupted, slamming the spoon onto the counter. “Teaching pays better than chasing fairy tales. Focus on your job at the school. Help this family survive.”
Kenna bit her lip, tears stinging her eyes. She wanted to argue, to tell her mother that she could make it happen. But what was the point? Her mother wouldn’t listen. Instead, she nodded silently and stood up.
“I’ll try my best, Mama,” she whispered before grabbing her bag and walking out the door.
The walk to St. Mary’s School gave Kenna time to think. She loved teaching it brought her joy to see her students’ faces light up when they learned something new but it wasn’t enough. Teaching paid just enough to help her family scrape by, but it didn’t feed her soul. Only one thing could do that: becoming a doctor.
As she reached the gates of the school, Kenna took a deep breath. She wiped away the last traces of tears and forced a smile onto her face. No matter what happened, she wouldn’t give up. Not today. Not ever.
The schoolyard was alive with the chatter of children when Kenna arrived. She greeted her students with a warm smile, though her mind still lingered on the argument with her mother. Pushing those thoughts aside, she stepped into her classroom and began the day’s lesson.
Halfway through the morning, there was a soft knock at the door. Kenna looked up to see a tall man standing in the doorway. He wore a crisp suit that seemed out of place in the modest school building. His sharp features and calm demeanor made him stand out even more.
“Good morning,” he said, his voice smooth and polite. “I’m Barron James. Lily’s uncle.”
Kenna blinked, surprised. Lily was one of her brightest students a quiet but curious girl who always sat in the front row. Kenna hadn’t expected anyone from Lily’s family to visit, let alone someone like him .
“Oh, hello, Mr. James,” Kenna replied, stepping forward and shaking his hand. His grip was firm but gentle. “Is everything alright? Is Lily okay?”
Barron nodded. “Lily’s fine. She talks about you all the time how kind you are, how much she’s learning. I wanted to meet the teacher who’s making such an impression on her.”
Kenna felt a small flush rise to her cheeks. “That’s very kind of you to say. Lily is a wonderful student. She works hard and asks great questions.”
Barron smiled faintly, his eyes lingering on her face for a moment longer than necessary. “It seems she’s not the only one working hard here.”
Kenna tilted her head, unsure what he meant. Before she could ask, the bell rang, signaling the end of class. The students began packing their books, and Kenna turned back to them, feeling flustered.
“Well, thank you for stopping by, Mr. James,” she said quickly, trying to regain her composure. “If you’d like, we can schedule a proper meeting later to discuss Lily’s progress.”
“That won’t be necessary,” Barron replied, his tone casual but his gaze intense. “I trust you completely. But… I may drop by again sometime. If that’s alright.”
Kenna hesitated, caught off guard by his words. “Of course. You’re always welcome.”
As Barron walked away, Kenna watched him go, a strange feeling settling in her chest. There was something about him something she couldn’t quite put her finger on. Shaking her head, she reminded herself to focus. She had lessons to teach and dreams to chase.
But deep down, she couldn’t shake the memory of his piercing eyes or the way he’d looked at her like she mattered.
A Secret Helper...
Kenna sat at her small wooden desk late one evening, surrounded by piles of books and papers. She had been trying to fill out the application forms for medical school, but her heart sank every time she reached the section about fees. How could she ever afford this?
Her hands trembled as she picked up the envelope that had arrived earlier that day. It was addressed to her in neat handwriting, with no return address. Curious, she opened it carefully. Inside was a bank draft a significant amount of money, enough to cover her application fees and some of her initial expenses.
“What is this?” Kenna whispered to herself, staring at the paper in disbelief. Her mind raced with questions. Who would send her such a gift? And why?
The next day at school, Kenna couldn’t focus. During recess, she approached Mrs. Patel, the school principal, hoping for answers.
“Mrs. Patel, did anyone… maybe a donor or someone… send money for me?” Kenna asked hesitantly.
Mrs. Patel frowned, shaking her head. “Not that I know of, dear. Why? Has something happened?”
Kenna hesitated, unsure how much to share. “It’s probably nothing. Just… I got this envelope yesterday with some money. No name, no note. I thought maybe it came through the school.”
Mrs. Patel looked genuinely puzzled. “That’s strange. But whoever it is, they must care about you a lot.”
Kenna nodded slowly, still confused. As she walked back to her classroom, she muttered under her breath, “Who are you?”
Later that week, Barron James returned to the school. This time, he didn’t come during class hours. He waited until the students had left and Kenna was alone in her classroom, grading papers.
“Miss Will,” he said softly from the doorway, startling her.
Kenna looked up, surprised to see him again. “Mr. James! What brings you here?”
Barron stepped inside, his hands in his pockets. “I was in the area and thought I’d check on Lily’s progress. But… I also wanted to see how you’re doing.”
Kenna raised an eyebrow, unsure what to make of his words. “I’m fine, thank you. Just busy with work.”
He nodded, glancing at the stack of books on her desk. “Medical textbooks? Planning something big?”
Kenna hesitated, then decided to be honest. “I’ve applied for medical school. It’s always been my dream, but… it’s not easy.”
Barron’s expression softened. “Dreams rarely are. But don’t let anything—or anyone—stop you.”
His words caught her off guard. She stared at him, searching his face for any hint of mockery or sarcasm. There was none. Only sincerity.
“Why do you care so much?” she asked quietly, almost to herself.
Barron smiled faintly. “Because people like you deserve a chance. And if there’s anything I can do to help, consider it done.”
Before Kenna could respond, he turned to leave. “Take care, Miss Will. I’ll see you around.”
As he walked away, Kenna sat back down, her heart pounding. His words lingered in her mind, but she still didn’t understand why he seemed so invested in her life.
What would YOU do if someone secretly helped you achieve your dreams? Tell me your thoughts! ALSO “If you were Kenna, would you trust Barron’s help or try to figure things out on your own?”
Comment below!
To continue the story, click here to read CHAPTER 02