(continued)
484 Words
Emilia’s pencil danced across the paper, shading the jawline of the confident girl she longed to be. The girl in her sketch had grace and poise—everything Emilia felt she lacked. Outside, the laughter from the common room seeped under her door, a cruel reminder of the world that existed beyond her small sanctuary.
She sighed and set the pencil down, her hand cramping from hours of drawing.
“Tomorrow will be different,” she whispered, though she didn’t believe it.
But somewhere inside her, a quiet ember refused to go out.
---
The next morning came too soon. Emilia walked to class early, hoping to avoid the crowds. The cool air stung her cheeks as she crossed the quad. She kept her head down, clutching her notebook tight, counting the steps to the lecture hall.
But fate had other plans.
A voice called out. “Hey, watch out!”
Before she could react, a Frisbee whizzed past her, nearly knocking her books from her hands.
“Oh no—I’m so sorry!”
Emilia blinked up, startled, as Liam Carter jogged over. His hair was messy from the wind, his smile sheepish. Up close, his charm wasn’t as effortless as it seemed from afar.
She didn’t know what to say. No one like him ever spoke to her.
“I wasn’t aiming for you, I swear,” he added, picking up the Frisbee. His friends hooted in the background.
“It’s… it’s okay.” Her voice came out small.
Liam hesitated, noticing the faint blush on her cheeks, the way she hugged her books like armor.
“You’re Emilia, right?”
Her heart stopped. He knew her name?
She nodded.
Liam smiled again, more genuinely this time. “See you around.”
And just like that, he was gone, running back to his friends.
But for Emilia, the moment lingered.
---
Later that day, Liam sat with his friends on the steps of the student union. Ryan smirked at him.
“Did you really just talk to her?”
“It was an accident,” Liam said, shrugging. But the image of her shy smile, the way her eyes widened behind her glasses—it stayed with him.
Ryan grinned. “I dare you. Get to know her. Make her fall for you. Bet you couldn’t do it.”
Liam laughed, shaking his head. “I’m not that much of a jerk.”
“Come on,” Ryan teased. “Where’s your sense of fun? What’s the worst that could happen?”
Liam didn’t answer. But the seed had been planted.
---
That night, Emilia sketched again—but this time, the confident girl in her drawing had a companion. A boy, tall and kind-eyed, who saw her for who she really was.
A foolish fantasy, she told herself.
But when she went to sleep, her heart felt just a little lighter.
- Writer
