Chapter Nine - Safe Haven
661 Words
The dorm room remained silent long after Vincent's tears had stopped.
The mug of Earl Grey tea sat untouched on his desk, thin wisps of steam still curling into the air.
William pretended to scroll through his phone.
He wasn't reading a single word.
Across the room, Vincent sat on the edge of his bed, staring at the floor.
Neither of them spoke.
Neither of them needed to.
Finally, William stood.
"I'm going for a walk."
Vincent looked up.
"Okay."
William slipped on his trainers before pausing at the door.
"If you want to come..."
He shrugged casually.
"...you can."
Vincent hesitated.
Normally he would've said no.
Tonight...
"I'll come."
The campus looked completely different after dark.
Streetlights reflected off rain-soaked pathways.
The football field stood empty.
The library lights glowed softly in the distance.
Everything felt peaceful.
For several minutes they walked side by side without saying anything.
William didn't rush the silence.
Eventually...
Vincent spoke.
"My mother used to bring me here."
William glanced sideways.
"To the university?"
Vincent nodded.
"When I was little."
"Why?"
"She studied here."
William smiled.
"So that's why you chose Ashton."
Vincent's expression softened.
"It reminds me of her."
William didn't interrupt.
"My father wanted me overseas."
"I refused."
He gave a small laugh.
"It's probably the first argument I ever won."
"But only because my mother was still alive."
The smile disappeared as quickly as it had come.
"I miss her every day."
William swallowed.
"I'm sorry."
Vincent nodded once.
"So am I."
They reached the university lake.
The water reflected the moon like polished glass.
William leaned against the wooden railing.
"Can I ask you something?"
Vincent nodded.
"You don't have to answer."
"Okay."
"Were you crying because of your dad..."
"...or because you feel trapped?"
Vincent looked out across the water.
"The second one."
William's chest tightened.
"I've never had to worry about disappointing millions of people."
Vincent laughed softly.
"You'd be surprised."
William frowned.
"What do you mean?"
"You carry everyone else's expectations too."
"I do?"
"Your teammates."
"The university."
"The people who think you're always happy."
William looked down.
For once...
He didn't have a joke ready.
Maybe Vincent saw more than he realised.
Back at the dorm...
William disappeared into the bathroom.
When he came back, he was carrying a small cardboard box.
"What's that?"
William smiled sheepishly.
"My emergency stash."
He opened the lid.
Chocolate bars.
Biscuits.
Packets of crisps.
Instant noodles.
Vincent blinked.
"...Why do you own enough snacks to survive a natural disaster?"
William looked offended.
"This is only the small box."
Vincent laughed.
A proper laugh.
William pointed triumphantly.
"There."
"What?"
"You laughed."
"I know."
"I missed it."
The words escaped before William could stop them.
Both of them froze.
William rubbed the back of his neck.
"I just meant..."
"I know what you meant."
Vincent's voice was quiet.
But he was smiling.
The next morning...
Campus life resumed as if nothing had happened.
Students hurried to lectures.
Football practice resumed.
Assignments piled up.
Only Vincent knew how much had changed.
As he packed his bag, he noticed something tucked between the pages of his thermodynamics textbook.
A handwritten note.
Don't forget to eat lunch today.
—W
Below the message...
A chocolate bar.
Vincent stared at it for several seconds.
Then...
Without realising...
He smiled.
Across campus...
Connor Wynne stood in the boardroom of Wynne Jewellery Group.
His assistant handed him another report.
"Mr. Moretti spent three hours with Vincent last night."
Connor skimmed the page.
"They walked around the university."
"They returned to the dorm together."
Connor closed the file.
"He isn't obeying."
"No, sir."
Connor looked toward the city skyline.
"Then perhaps..."
He spoke quietly.
"...it's time to remind Ashton University exactly who funds their new engineering building."
His assistant understood immediately.
"You want to involve the university."
Connor's expression never changed.
"I want my son to remember..."
"...that there is nowhere he can run where my name does not reach."
- Writer
