The heavy double doors of the Daily Sentinel newsroom slammed shut behind Mara, sealing out the chaotic noise of the hallway. She leaned back against the frosted glass, dragging air into her burning lungs. Her legs felt like lead, trembling so violently she had to brace her hands against her knees. She had run all the way from the lecture hall, her vision narrowed to a panicked tunnel until she reached her sanctuary.
Here, the air smelled of stale coffee, overheated printers, and looming deadlines. It was usually the only place on campus where the loud, unpredictable world outside ceased to matter. She could control the narrative here.
But today, the walls felt like they were closing in. Adrian’s intense hazel eyes staring at her in ethics class flashed in her mind, followed immediately
