FATED

Chapter two: New beginnings

Sage stood in the doorway, hugging her mom tightly. "I'll be back soon, Mom. We can Skype each other all the time

Her mom smiled, trying to hold back tears. "I'm so proud of you, Sage. You're growing up to be an amazing young woman."

Sage's dad put a hand on her shoulder. "We're all going to miss you, kiddo. But we know you're ready for this new adventure."

Max, looked up at her with big, sad eyes. "I'm going to miss you so much, Sage."

Sage knelt down and hugged him tightly. "I'll miss you too, buddy. But I'll be back soon."

Her older brother, Alex, had sent her a text message earlier, saying how proud he was of her and how much he would miss her. He had work and couldn't be there to see her off.

As Sage said her final goodbyes, she felt a mix of emotions: excitement for the new adventure ahead, but also sadness at leaving her family behind.

After a few more hugs and tears, Sage finally set off for Bridginton University.

As she arrived on campus, Sage felt a sense of wonder at the beautiful buildings and bustling atmosphere. She had done all her registration and paperwork online, so she only had to do some final physical signing to complete her registration.

Sage navigated the campus, trying to find her dorm. As she walked, she noticed a girl watching her from across the quad.

"Hi," the girl said, approaching Sage. "You look lost. Can I help?"

Sage nodded, feeling a bit more at ease. "Yeah, I'm trying to find my dorm. I'm in Dorm 3, Room 12."

The girl's face lit up. "No way! That's my dorm too! I'm Hayden. I arrived a couple of days ago, so I can show you around."

As they walked to their dorm, Hayden asked Sage about herself. "So, where are you from?"

Sage replied, "I'm from a small town a few hours away. I'm really excited to be here, though."

Hayden nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah, I know what you mean! I'm from a big city, but I'm loving the campus vibe so far."

When they arrived at their dorm, Hayden led Sage to their room. "Hey, guys! This is Sage, our new roommate."

Bella, a petite blonde with a bubbly personality, bounced up from her bed. "Oh my gosh, hi Sage! Welcome to our humble abode! I'm Bella."

Mari, a quiet, reserved girl with long, dark hair, smiled and nodded from her desk. "Hi, Sage. Nice to meet you."

As they chatted and got to know each other, Sage couldn't help but notice the different personalities in the room. Bella was clearly the social butterfly, always bubbly and enthusiastic. Mari was more reserved, but Sage could tell she was warm and kind once you got to know her. And Hayden, well, Hayden seemed like a great friend already.

"I'm so glad we're roomies!" Bella exclaimed, throwing her arms around Sage. "We're going to have the best year ever!"

Sage laughed, feeling a sense of belonging already. "I'm glad too, Bella. Thanks for making me feel so welcome."

As they continued to chat and laugh together, Sage knew that she was exactly where she was meant to be.