Trials Of Thelma: Unbroken

Breathe

I wave goodbye to my parents, though my heart feels heavy with mixed emotions. Part of me is relieved to leave home—relieved to get back to campus, back to the familiarity of school, my friends, and, hopefully, some peace of mind. Yet, another part of me feels burdened. The weight of everything that’s happened with Jayden and the stress at home still lingers, sticking to my skin like a damp fog I can’t shake. It’s been a challenging few weeks.

When I arrive at campus, I feel like I can finally breathe again. As I step onto the grounds, the noise of students walking to and fro from wherever, the chatter of conversations, the scent of coffee wafting from the campus café—it all feels like home. My friends were waiting for me outside the hostel, and as soon as they saw me, I was surrounded by a whirlwind of hugs, laughter, and questions.

“Oh my God, Thelma!” Meghan exclaims, wrapping her arms around me tightly. “You’re back!” I smile, feeling the warmth of their love wash over me. “I missed you guys so much,” I say honestly, the strain of the last few weeks finally beginning to ease.

“You’ve lost so much weight,” Liam said, giving me a concerned look. “Are you okay? Have you been eating?”

I laugh softly, trying to brush it off. “You know how things have been at home. It’s been…a lot.” Meghan’s brow furrows. “We could tell. When we visited, you looked like you had a lot on your mind. We were worried about you.”

I sigh and nodded, feeling the vulnerability creeping back in. “It was rough. Jayden’s accident, the hospital visits, and just…everything with my mom. It’s been overwhelming. But I’m getting better, I promise.” “Good,” Sarah says, squeezing my hand. “We’re here for you, always.” I felt really blessed, having these people in my life. For a moment, I allowed myself to relax, to just be with my friends and let the tension slip away.

The next few days passed by in a blur of assignments, deadlines, and countless hours spent in the library. I was drowning in coursework, trying to catch up on everything I missed while I was home. The days going one after another, a haze of study sessions and sleepless nights. My mind is so focused on school that I barely have time to think about anything else.

It’s one afternoon, after spending hours hunched over books and research papers in the library, that I step outside for a breath of fresh air. My mind is still spinning with the information I’ve been cramming in, and I’m lost in thought as I make my way toward the campus square.

That was when I collided with him.

I stumbled back slightly, disoriented, and look up to see who I’ve bumped into. The first thing I notice is his smile—charming and almost too perfect, like he’s fully aware of how good he looks and uses it to his advantage. His dark hair is tousled, like he just ran a hand through it, and his sharp jawline is cleanly shaven. He’s tall, with broad shoulders and a casual confidence that seems effortless. His eyes are striking—a deep, piercing blue that almost catches me off guard.

“Oh, I’m so sorry,” I mumble, realizing I’d been the one not paying attention. “I was in a hurry…”

He grins, a little amused. “No harm done.” His voice is smooth, deep, the kind that could make someone feel flustered. “What’s your name?”

I blink, still caught up in the moment, and quickly compose myself. “I’m Thelma,” I say, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear. “And you?” “I’m Daniel Rivera,” he replies, still wearing that roguish smile that seems to be his trademark. “What department are you in?”

“Business Admin,” I answer. “And you?” “Engineering,” he says casually. Then, as if he’s just remembered something, he adds, “You seem like you were really focused on something. Hope I didn’t knock you off track.”

“Oh, I was just leaving the library,” I explain, “I’ve got a lot of work to catch up on.” He nods, looking a little impressed. “Well, I won’t keep you. It was nice bumping into you, Thelma.” I offer him a small smile, feeling like the encounter was a bit surreal. “Yeah, you too.”

As I walked away, I couldn’t help but feel a little flustered. There’s something about Daniel—something about the way he carries himself, his confidence, that just makes you take notice. When I get back to the hostel, Meghan is the first to pick up on my mood.

“Why do you look like you’ve just seen a ghost?” she teases, poking me in the side. I laugh, shaking my head. “It’s nothing. I just… I bumped into this guy on my way back.” Her interest is instantly piqued. “Oh? Spill. Who is he?”

“He says his name’s Daniel... Daniel Rivera. He’s in Engineering,” I say, casually dropping his name.

“Wait,” Sarah pipes up, her eyes widening. “You mean Daniel—like, the Daniel Rivera? How do you not know him? He’s literally one of the most popular guys on campus!”

I looked at her in confusion. “ Really, I don’t really keep up with that stuff,” I admit with a shrug. “That’s because you live in the library, Thelma.” Sophia snickers. Meghan playfully rolls her eyes. “Anyway, Daniel’s kind of a big deal around here. He’s, like, known for being super charming and flirty with everyone.”

“Oh.” I try to hide my surprise, but internally, I’m a little taken aback. “Well, we just talked for a second. It wasn’t anything serious.”

Days pass, and I didn’t think much more of the encounter—until I ran into Daniel again. This time, I’m back in the library, buried in a stack of textbooks, trying to make sense of the material I missed. I’m so absorbed in my work that I don’t even notice him until he’s standing right next to me.

“Hey, Thelma,” he says smoothly, pulling up a chair and sitting across from me without waiting for an invitation.

I glance up, a little startled. “Oh, hey, Daniel. What are you doing here?” “Same as you, I guess,” he says with a grin. “Trying to survive the semester.”

I laugh lightly, appreciating his humor. “Yeah, it’s been rough.”

We end up talking for a while—longer than I expected. He’s surprisingly easy to talk to, and I find myself opening up about how stressed I’ve been lately with everything going on at school. He listens, offering words of encouragement and sharing stories from his own life. He’s charming, sweet, and there’s this air of mystery around him that draws me in. By the time we part ways, I feel lighter—like maybe I’ve found someone who understands the chaos of life.

Before we leave, he asks for my number. I hesitate for a moment but eventually give it to him. After all, what’s the harm in staying connected with someone who’s seems nice?

Over the next few days, Daniel’s messages become a regular occurrence. At first, they’re casual—checking in on how I’m doing, asking how my day went, sending little jokes that make me smile. But then, they become more flirty—little compliments, playful banter, things that make me blush even though I’m not used to that kind of attention. He’s persistent, in a way that’s both flattering and slightly overwhelming.

One night, I’m hanging out in the hostel with my friends, catching up on our usual girl talk when my phone buzzes with a new message. It’s from Daniel.

Hey, Thelma. Would you like to go on a date with me?