Four girls stood in a dorm room, the only light source an old flickering lantern. It was night, and they had been without power for days, leaving all the rechargeable lamps dead. They gathered together in the middle of the room. A double bunk rested against three of the walls, while a table stood beside the wall with the door. Originally intended for reading, the table had been repurposed as a bookshelf since all six girls couldn't sit and use it at once.

The four stood silent and motionless. The only sound came when Flora, one of them, sighed deeply and clapped her hands, a habit that had become periodic, occurring every two minutes or so. They were waiting, and Flora was growing increasingly agitated.

They turned as the door opened, and another girl burst into the room.

"Finally," Flora cried. "What's the update?"

The defeated look on the new girl’s face said it all.

Flora sank to her knees.

"She's expelled. They expelled her," Dara said quietly.

"Oh my God," Hope said, her voice trembling.

The other girls, Dera and Claire, stayed silent.

"Why? Why do we tolerate these treatments and this high-handedness? Why do we take it? Why can't we do anything about it? Those disgusting administrators treat us however they like, and we just take it. If they had given us power, we wouldn’t have gone out to protest, and that stupid incident with Ms. Chinaza would never have happened. If they’re going to expel Happiness, they better get ready to expel me too!" Flora said, still on her knees and shaking.

"Calm down, mama. Happy was planning to leave anyway. She’ll be better off in Chicago than in this godforsaken place where the powers that be do whatever they like and get away with it. You don’t have the kind of opportunity she does," Dera said coolly, her rational tone cutting through the tension. She was considered the voice of reason among the group.

"Fuck that," Flora shot back.

"Flora…" Dera started.

"No, I agree with Flora," Claire said suddenly.

Everyone turned to look at Claire. She rarely ever agreed with Flora.

"So, you want to get expelled too?" Hope asked uncertainly, her gaze fixed on Claire as if wondering whether the lack of electricity had finally driven her mad.

"No. Why should they keep getting away with the way they treat us?" Claire said, her voice steady.

"I guess we can only hope for karma to catch up with them. I mean, what can we do?" Dera said sympathetically. She too felt the sting of helplessness. It was a government school, and no one cared how it was run. Their parents didn’t have the wealth or influence to make a difference.

"Be the karma," Claire replied.

Flora’s face lit up with joy. She stood up, looking at Claire with newfound admiration as if seeing her in an entirely different light.

Claire met the eyes of each girl in the room, one by one, and declared, "Let’s be the motherfucking powers that be!"