Lucy Snowe was a young woman in her early twenties who found herself completely alone in the world. Her family was gone, leaving her with no one to turn to and no prospects in England.But you know what? Lucy wasn't the type to just sit around feeling sorry for herself. She decided to take a leap of faith and try her luck abroad.Now, Lucy wasn't exactly rolling in dough. Her savings were about as modest as a church mouse's, but she scraped together every last penny she had and bought a ticket for a ship headed to the continent. As she boarded that creaky old vessel, her heart was pounding so hard she thought it might burst right out of her chest.Let me tell you, that journey was no pleasure cruise. Mother Nature decided to throw a fit, and violent storms tossed that ship around like it was a rubber ducky in a toddler's bathtub. Poor Lucy spent most of her time huddled in her bunk, feeling like her insides were doing the cha-cha.After what felt like forever, the ship finally reached the shores of Labassecour. Lucy stumbled onto solid ground, her legs wobbling like a newborn giraffe's.The marketplace was like a circus on steroids. People were rushing about, shouting in a language that sounded like complete gibberish to Lucy's ears. The stalls were bursting with colors and smells she'd never experienced before. It might have been exciting if she wasn't feeling so lost and overwhelmed.Lucy felt like she was drowning in a sea of unfamiliarity, but she knew she had to keep her head above water. Taking a deep breath, she scanned the crowd, looking for anyone who didn't look like they'd bite her head off if she asked for help. Her eyes landed on a woman with kind eyes and a smile that reminded her of her grandmother.What followed was probably the world's worst game of charades. Through a mix of broken French, wild gesturing, and sheer desperation, Lucy managed to ask for directions to a decent inn. The woman's eyes lit up like she'd just solved a particularly tricky puzzle, and she pointed Lucy in the right direction.At the inn, Lucy collapsed onto the bed, feeling like she'd just run a marathon. As she lay there, trying to figure out what the heck she was going to do next, she overheard a conversation that made her ears perk up like a dog who just heard the word "walk."It was like the universe had finally decided to cut her some slack. Lucy's heart started racing with hope. She might not have much, but she did have her education and her native English.With a newfound spring in her step, Lucy approached the women and asked about the school's location. They were more than happy to help, giving her directions and even throwing in a few words of encouragement.The road ahead was still as unpredictable as a cat in a room full of rocking chairs, but for the first time since she'd left England, Lucy felt like she had a purpose. As she walked through the unfamiliar streets, her steps grew more confident.The sun was setting as Lucy approached the gates of the pensionnat, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink. She paused for a moment, taking in the sight of the imposing building that could be her new home. It looked like something out of a gothic novel, all dark stone and towering windows. Lucy's heart started racing again, but this time it was a mix of excitement and nerves. She took a deep breath, squared her shoulders, and walked forward. As she got closer, the building seemed to loom larger and larger, its windows staring down at her like judgmental eyes. Lucy's small suitcase suddenly felt like it was filled with bricks, growing heavier with each step. But there was no turning back now.