half-hearted help. Eventually, we were pointed to a tall glass buil

ous, polished office, the air-conditionin

tered. Mid-50s, dist

ng, sir," D

at," the Dean responded, rising

scholarship here. We've come

ning to me. "Welcome. I'm Richard Me

onor, sir,

over the scholarship documents. The De

ourses are now registered in our system. Y

ou, sir,

eading us to my assigned dorm. We followed her across the manicured grounds until we r

at the t

ond. My bed had a crisp, clean duvet. A sleek laptop sat on a desk beside a shelf lined with cla

credible,"

said. "Your roommate hasn't arrived yet.

though I had silently ho

tructions, then excused herself. "

Dad and I s

l buzzing with excitement.

ul. "It is. Let's grab your b

th each step, reality settled deeper in: I wa

the door, the moment of goodbye upon us. H

red for

y?" I asked

gined. It's easy to lose yourself

se I made to you and Mom. I won't let ei

. And if anything ever goes wrong-don't hesitate

hugging him tightly.

back and placed a hand on my shoul

I stood at the dorm entrance, watchi

ed more than comfort. It represented opportunity. Change. And

a breath I hadn't realized I was holdin

to lose yo

courtyard-laughing, talking, some walking with that effor

bel

oor snapped me f

n that looked like it came easy. He wore a varsity jacket, duff

, right? I'm your room

Yeah, Peter Campbel

hey really hooked us up. This is way better th

brother he

f his class, student body president, all

rom mine and flopped down with a sati

he already knew from my dre

t's a haul. Must've tak

" I said

eplied. "I r

id-back, easy to talk to. Still, I felt the gap between us. His ease, his familiarity with

dules. Class placements. Student ID number. My heart beat faster a

staring at the ceiling. I shou

when I woke up later in the evening

oo worn next to the designer threads I passed in the halls. Alex was already gone, probably off to so

owd, careful not to bump int

right?" a v

shown me my dorm. She smiled. "You're scheduled for the sec

ks,"

ush rippled through the crowd. Heads turn

center of the lawn like

ng against a white blouse tucked into high-waisted trousers. Gold bangles

My

her, laughing and tossing perfect hair over tanned shoulders. But she

licked in my direction. Brie

lance felt like being singed by fire

e. But something told