Today I turned down Laurie’s proposal, and though my heart aches, I know it was right. His voice trembled in the firelight, but my resolve was steadier than the shadows. I could not marry him just to satisfy expectations. Ink stains on my fingers remind me of the life I cannot surrender—stories waiting to be written, even if they cost me love. Sometimes I wonder if ambition is a blessing or a curse. Perhaps it is both. Still, I step out into the night with ink-stained hands, trusting they will guide me more truly than any ring.
Pearl’s Note:
If you had to say “no” to protect a dream, what would you keep—and what would you risk?
Pearl Z. is a Grade 6 student who loves reading, writing, and swimming. She is especially interested in how stories connect to real life.
Language & Logic 
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