CHAPTER 1-the beginning
1037 Words
After four exhausting hours on the road from Houston to Dallas, I finally reached my destination: Northcrest University.
“Honey, we’re here,” my dad said excitedly.
I looked out the window and realized we had finally arrived.
“I can’t believe my baby is finally all grown up,” my mom said with excitement.
I stepped out of the car, taking in my surroundings as my dad walked to the back and pulled out my luggage from the trunk.
“Thanks, Dad,” I said with a small smile, watching him place my belongings beside me.
“Anything for you, sweetie,” he replied warmly before leaning down to kiss the top of my head.
My heart raced with excitement as students walked past me, laughing and dragging their suitcases across campus.
I carried my things inside while my mom helped me to my dorm room since men weren’t allowed inside the girls’ dormitory, and when we finally reached the room, I noticed a blonde girl already sitting on one of the beds. She looked up the moment we walked in, and I immediately guessed that she was my roommate.
"Hey, you must be my new roommate. Hi, I’m Naomi," she said with a smile as she stretched out her hand for a handshake.
I smiled back at her. “I’m Olivia, and this is my mom,” I said as I accepted her handshake and introduced my mother.
“Hi, I’m Laura, and my husband, Jake, is downstairs,” my mom said as she introduced herself and my dad. Naomi nodded with a bright smile. “You can start settling in. Let me know if you need any help,” she added warmly as she went back to her space.
My mom helped me bring my things into the room, but she couldn’t stay to help me arrange them since she and Dad had another four-hour journey back home. So we both went downstairs so we could all say our goodbyes.
“Okay, my ginger bear, your mom and I love you so much, so be a good girl for us,” my dad said as he pulled me into a hug.
My mom stood for a moment, tears welling up in her eyes. “Oh, Jake… our baby is leaving us,” she said as she took a tissue and gently wiped the corner of her eyes.
I rolled my eyes playfully. “Mom, I’m just four hours away from you guys.”
“I know, honey, it’s just that you’ll be here alone. You won’t need my help or your dad’s help with anything,” she said, wiping her eyes again.
“Mom, I’ll be fine, and if I need anything, I can always call you or Dad,” I said, trying to reassure her.
My dad smiled softly. “Honey, our little girl is so mature. You can trust her,” he assured her.
My dad pulled me into another hug, holding me a little longer this time, as if he was trying to memorize me. I felt his hand gently pat my back.
My mom stayed close beside us, her eyes still glassy with tears she was trying to hold back. She kept touching my arm like she needed to make sure I was really there.
A soft silence followed, the kind that said everything words couldn’t. I forced a small smile, even though my chest felt heavy.
“I’ll be fine,” I whispered, more to myself than to them.
My dad finally stepped back first, clearing his throat. “We should go before traffic gets worse,” he said, but his voice wasn’t as strong as usual.
My mom nodded slowly, but her eyes didn’t leave me. It was like she was trying to take one last picture of me with her memory.
And even though I kept smiling, I didn’t miss the way their hands lingered a little longer before finally letting go.
They both got into the car, and I waved them goodbye as they drove off. I stood in place for a few minutes, watching the car disappear down the road, before I finally turned and walked back into my dorm.
I got back inside my dorm and found my roommate getting dressed like she was going out, but I didn’t question her. Instead, I started arranging my space.
After a few minutes, she finished dressing up.
“Umm, Olivia, I won’t be coming back to the room tonight, so you can lock the door when you’re ready to sleep,” she said. Before I could respond, she left.
I stood still for a moment after the door closed behind her, her words replaying in my mind.
Won’t be coming back tonight?
I glanced around the room, suddenly feeling how quiet it had become. The space felt even bigger now that I was alone.
I let out a small breath and shook my head slightly, deciding not to overthink it. People had their own lives, after all.
Turning back to my things, I continued arranging my space, trying to make the unfamiliar room feel a little more like home.
I finished arranging my things around 9 p.m., then gave my parents a quick call and showed them how my space looked. Their voices made the room feel a little less empty, even if it was only through the phone.
After the call, I took a quick shower and changed into my pajamas. The dorm felt unusually quiet now, like it was holding its breath. I sat on my bed with a small notebook and wrote out a timetable for my classes and daily routines, trying to bring order to my new life.
When I was done, I stared at the dim room for a moment, listening to the silence. After some time, I drifted to sleep, wrapped in the unfamiliar feeling of my first night away from home.
- Writer
