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In Chinese Cinderella, how does Adeline feel watching friends leave St. Joseph's School?

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Dear Diary,

Today, I watched as one by one, my classmates were picked up by their families to be whisked away from the turmoil that is engulfing Tianjin. The hallways echoed with their joyful goodbyes and promises to write. The school, once filled with laughter and camaraderie, is now an empty, echoing shell, and I am left alone with the Sisters.

As I watched them leave, my heart ached with a profound sense of loneliness and isolation. It's not the first time I've felt this way, but each instance seems to cut deeper than the last. A part of me yearned to join them, to feel the warm embrace of a family member, to be enveloped in the comforting knowledge that someone cares enough to come and fetch me.

But alas, no one came. No familiar face peered through the gate searching for me. No comforting arms were wrapped around me in a warm embrace. No words of love and concern were whispered in my ear. I stood there, an observer, watching the world move around me while I stood still.

Yet, in the midst of the sadness, there is a sense of resilience growing within me. I am learning that solitude does not equate to weakness. In fact, it's in these moments of solitude that I'm discovering my own strength. I am learning to navigate the world on my own, to find joy in the little things, and to not rely on others for my happiness.

Christmas is around the corner, and I will spend it here, alone with the Sisters. It will be a quiet celebration, devoid of the usual merriment that families share. But I will make the best of it. After all, I am not completely alone. I have the Sisters, and I have myself.

In loneliness, I am finding my strength. In solitude, I am finding my spirit.

Yours, Adeline

Expert Answers

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The AI-generated answer provides an example of a diary entry that explores Yen Mah's feelings about being left at the boarding school. Here is another potential diary entry from the perspective of Adeline Yen Mah when she was left alone at St. Joseph's Boarding School during the turmoil:

Dear Diary,

Today was another heart-wrenching day, watching my friends get picked up one by one by their joyful families. Suitcases were hurriedly packed, tearful hugs exchanged, and then they were gone - whisked away to safety while I remained behind.

The dull ache of rejection felt familiar yet piercing every time a family arrived. I couldn't help but scan their faces longingly, hoping against hope that one day, my parents would come for me. But once again, no one came for their unwanted daughter.

As the school grounds emptied and an eerie silence fell, I couldn't hold back my tears. What did I do to deserve this loneliness? Despite my efforts to be good and make Father proud, his harsh words still echoed—that I was a disgrace, he couldn't bear to see. While loved ones protect my friends, I'm left undefended and unprotected in this turmoil.

Even Christmas, a time that's supposed to be filled with warmth and belonging, I've been utterly alone year after year. No gifts, no embraces, no love—just me and the cold, unfeeling walls. The Sisters give me pitying looks, but they cannot replace a parent's love that I've been denied.

Sometimes, I dream of a family who wants me just like me. Until then, I'll be strong and pretend I don't cry myself to sleep every night. Perhaps one day, things will change, and I'll awaken from this nightmare of abandonment and find my life transformed. But for now, loneliness is my only constant companion.

Adeline

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