Each week we will showcase the winning stories from our students, here is Ava's story.

Barren. That was how to describe what lay before Lucy. The sky stretched out dark and ominous and the cobwebs were suspended between the rides of the carnival. It was deserted, and the creepy feeling made Lucy shiver. The Ferris wheel creaked and that’s when it started. Lightning cracked right next to her, purple winged creatures came flying at her from nowhere, small fluffy clouds rocketed towards her. An invisible force yanked her over and pulled at her feet, dragging her across the hay floor. Lucy tried to scream, but nothing came out.

Lucy sat bolt upright in her bed. She had broken out in a cold sweat like she did every morning after waking from the same dream. But despite the horrors of the dream, it was like heaven compared to the day ahead. Lucy managed to get to school and find her friends, they messed around while they waited for the bell, and for the shortest amount of time, Lucy lost the cloud of depression that had hung over her for 2 years. She lost the sense of failure, the thoughts of improvement, and the question, how to banish the cloud. But sure enough, the cloud quickly returned. The bell went and she pushed her way through the stampede in the corridor, her head dropped low. Lucy reached her destination and tentatively pushed the door open.

“Hey, Lucy.” A sweet-voiced woman said from behind the desk.

“Hi, Miss Eagle,” Lucy whispered, nerves flooding her body.

“Take a seat.” Miss Eagle said, smiling kindly and gesturing to the seat opposite her. Lucy closed the door tightly behind her and sat down, she gripped the armrests tightly and her knee started jiggling hastily. Miss Eagle had a vibe about her, one of confidence and trust.

“So, let’s talk through this, ok Lucy?” Miss Eagle said in a kind reassuring tone, starting what was sure to be a difficult conversation.

That night, like every night, Lucy was back at the carnival. The desertedness was still creepy, and the lack of life sent shivers up Lucy’s spine. She knew it was coming but it terrified her all the same when the lightning hit the ground centimetres from her bare feet. It terrified her when the screeching winged creatures came rocketing at her from all directions. It terrified her when the icy mist swept her hair into knots and gave her goosebumps all over. It was hell. As she hit the ground, as she felt the unseen force grab her ankle, as she was dragged across the rough disgusting ground. Lucy opened her mouth wide, wanting desperately to release her pent-up feelings through a loud scream. And she did. Not a proper scream, just a quiet, timid scream, a scream that was a baby wanting to grow. Lucy was surprised, she had never been able to scream before in this dream. And it felt magnificent, being able to vent just a fraction of her feelings. It wasn’t much, but it was a start.

By Ava Porter