The one in the dark

My eyes were closing barely a second away from completely dozing off when I heard the familiar sound of the notification i get when i receive an email, just a glance of who it's from then I'll go to sleep I told Myself, I picked up my phone with the blue phone case i had gotten over six years ago, it already had stains here and there, although I had always considered getting a new case i just never seem to find time for that. I turned on the phone just to see who the sender was but a simple glance was enough to completely wipe of my sleep, ‌OxfordUniversity@.com I jumped to my feet out of excitement, this email is going to be the determination of what the next 2 years of my life would look like, this was the moment I had been waiting for, the moment i never seemed to stop talking about all i needed to do was open the email, it was right in front of me a single tap that's all it took. My fingers hovered over the screen for a while before I finally let out a sigh making my way to the kitchen my phone still in hand, i just needed a cold glass of milk then I would open it. With the glass of milk in hand, i took a sip then another and another staring directly at the email. "Get your self together for Christ sake this is what you've always dreamed off, one click that's all it takes". I clicked on the email with my eyes half closed out of nervousness, what if I opened it to the biggest disappointment, but what i saw from my half opened eyes where enough to open the rest of her eyes. ‌Dear Courtney, ‌ On behalf of the administration of Oxford we would like to inform with great pleasure that you have been accepted to study literature in Oxford University in London, it will be an honor to have you as one of our students. ‌ Your's faithfully ‌ Oxford I read it again and again, rushed to the bathroom to watch my face to make sure i wasn't dreaming, i restarted my phone just to make sure it was not sent by mistake, I had read it at least 15 times before being completely convinced it was real, this was real, I mean of course it was i deserved it I worked so hard to get it and now it is here right in front of my eyes and it wasn't a dream, I made my way to the balcony of my apartment which was on the sixth floor, and held the railing, it was two AM in the morning the world was asleep, i took a deep breath of fresh air and let out the most ear deafning scream from the very top of my lungs using whatever strength I had left, " I am going to London"!!!!!!! "To the school of my dreams"!!!!! "Love that for you but I'm really trying to get some sleep" a faint voice from an apartment beside me yelled. "I'm sorry just really excited". With the little strength I had I managed to stumble my way back to my room, laying down with my back on my bed and my eyes facing the ceiling, I try to make my schedule for tomorrow, I have to leave for London next week if I wanted to make it to school early. This meant I had five days to pack and inform my friends and family of the good news, well four days of I crossed out the day I would be spending with my family. Tomorrow would be an eventful day, and I would also have to quit my job here tomorrow, still lost in thoughts my eyes scanned my room when it fell on the clock, it was three AM I needed to get sleep if I wanted to do everything I needed to tomorrow, I turned to my side stretching my hand to the light switch beside my bed to turn off the light. As soon as I closed my eyes sleep immediately took over. I woke up to the warmth of sunlight resting gently across my face. For a moment I stayed still, eyes closed, enjoying the quiet comfort of my bed. Then the memories of the night before rushed back to me the email, the words We inform you with great pleasure that you have been ACCEPTED..., the way my heart had pounded so loudly I thought it might wake the neighbors. Oxford University. Even thinking it now made me grin into my pillow. A faint clatter came from the kitchen, followed by the unmistakable hum of someone singing off-key. I smiled. I didn't even have to guess who it was. "Of course," I muttered, pushing myself upright. "She's here again." My best friend practically lived at my house anyway, so hearing her in the kitchen early in the morning wasn't surprising at all. I stretched, slipped out of bed, and made my way down the hall, still a little sleepy but already feeling the excitement bubbling inside me again. The smell of toast and fried eggs greeted me before I even stepped into the kitchen. "There she is!" Kaitlyn said, turning around with a spatula in hand. "Look who finally decided to wake up." I laughed, pulling out a chair and sitting down. "I slept late." "How late?" she asked suspiciously. "Three in the morning." Her eyes widened. "Three? What were you doing, planning to take over the world?" "Something like that," I said, reaching for a slice of toast. My mind drifted for a moment to the long list I had scribbled in my notebook things to arrange, people to tell, plans to make. Today was going to be busy. Very busy. "So," she said, sliding a plate toward me, "what's on your schedule today?" I took a bite of toast before answering. "Well... I have a lot to do. I need to organize some documents, make a few calls, and..." I hesitated for a second, then added casually, "I'm also going to quit my job." She froze mid-sip. "You're what?" "I'm quitting." "Why?" she asked, frowning. "You just started getting comfortable there. What happened?" I set my cup down, and I couldn't hold back my smile anymore. "I got an email last night." "What kind of email?" I leaned forward, my voice dropping even though there was no one else around. "Oxford University accepted me. I'm going to study literature there." For a second she just stared at me, as if the words needed time to sink in. Then she gasped so loudly I thought she might break a window. "No way!" she shouted, grabbing my hands. "You're serious? Oxford? That's huge!" "I know!" I laughed, feeling my excitement rise again just saying it out loud. "I couldn't sleep after I read it. I stayed up planning everything." She jumped up and pulled me into a tight hug. "I'm so proud of you!" We both started laughing, talking over each other, already planning how to celebrate. "We have to do something today," she said. "This is not ordinary news." "Agreed," I said. "But there's one thing." "What?" "Don't tell my Brandon (my boyfriend who I had met through Kaitlyn they basically grew up together) yet," I said. "I want to surprise him in person." She raised an eyebrow but nodded. "Alright. My lips are sealed." After we finished eating, I leaned back in my chair, feeling full, happy, and strangely energized despite the little sleep I'd had. "Well," I said, standing up, "I should start getting ready. Big day ahead." "Big day," she agreed with a grin. But before you go, what time would you be back? Kaitlyn asked out of curiosity. "Well I'll be out really late so earliest is 7pm" I walked back to my room, already running through my plans again in my mind. The sunlight was brighter now, filling the room with a golden glow. For a moment I stood there, taking it all in, letting the reality of everything settle over me. My life was changing. Really changing. And this was only the beginning. I grabbed my towel and headed to the bathroom, ready to take a shower and start the day that suddenly felt full of endless possibilities. The warm water from the shower washed away the last traces of sleep, leaving me feeling awake and steady. As I stood there, I let myself breathe, letting the reality of everything settle in again. Oxford. I was really going. When I stepped back into my room, I wrapped myself in a towel and stood in front of my wardrobe for a long moment, thinking. Today wasn't an ordinary day. It felt like the beginning of something, and I wanted to look like I believed that. I finally chose a simple outfit-one of my favorite blouses and a pair of well-fitted trousers. Nothing too fancy, but neat and confident. I dried my hair, letting it fall naturally around my shoulders, and put on a light touch of makeup, just enough to brighten my face. When I looked at myself in the mirror, I paused. There was something different in my expression. My eyes seemed brighter, more certain. The nervousness I usually carried around my shoulders wasn't there. I stood a little straighter, like someone who knew where she was going. I smiled at my reflection. "You look like someone with a plan," I murmured. Grabbing my bag, I stepped back into the hallway and found my best friend scrolling through her phone in the living room. "Well," she said, looking up, "look at you. Someone's glowing today." I laughed. "I feel like I'm glowing." "So where to first?" she asked. "Work," I sighed. She nodded, understanding immediately. I slipped on my shoes and picked up my keys, then turned back to her. "I might be home late today," I said. "After you're done, just lock the door, okay?" "Of course," she replied. "And don't worry about anything here. Just focus on your big day." I smiled at her, grateful as always. "Thank you." With that, I stepped outside, closing the door behind me, the morning air fresh against my face. The day had truly begun. The library The library stood exactly as it always had-quiet, welcoming, and familiar. The old wooden sign above the door had faded slightly over the years, but to me it was as beautiful as ever. I paused outside for a moment before going in, my hand resting on the door handle. Memories came rushing back: my first day here, when I was nervous and shy; the afternoons spent shelving books; the evenings when the golden light filtered through the tall windows and everything felt calm and endless. This place had been more than a job. It had been a second home. I pushed the door open, and the familiar scent of paper and polished wood greeted me. The soft rustle of pages turning and the quiet hum of whispers filled the air. "Good morning," one of my coworkers called softly from behind the desk. "Morning," I replied, smiling, though my heart felt heavy and light at the same time. I knew what I had come to do. The owner's office was at the back, a small room lined with shelves and filled with stacks of papers and teacups that always seemed to appear out of nowhere. I knocked gently. "Come in," came her voice. She looked up as I stepped inside, her glasses resting low on her nose. Her face softened immediately. "There you are," she said. "I was wondering when you'd arrive." I closed the door behind me, suddenly unsure where to begin. She noticed, of course. She always noticed. "What is it?" she asked gently. I took a breath. "I... I came to tell you something." She leaned back in her chair, listening. "I was accepted into Oxford University," I said, the words still feeling unreal even now. "I'll be going to study literature." For a moment, she said nothing. Then a slow smile spread across her face, and her eyes shone with pride. "Oh," she said softly. "I knew it. I always knew you would go far." My throat tightened. "I'm going to have to leave... which means I have to quit." She stood up and came around the desk, placing her hands gently on my shoulders. "I am heartbroken to lose you," she said honestly. "But I am happier than you can imagine to see you grow." That was when I felt tears sting my eyes. She had been more than a boss to me. She had guided me, corrected me, encouraged me sometimes scolded me like a mother would. "I wouldn't be here without you," I said quietly. She shook her head. "You would have found your way. But I'm glad I got to watch you do it." We stood there for a moment in silence, both of us understanding what this goodbye meant. When I stepped back into the main library, my coworkers gathered around as the news spread. "You're leaving?" one of them said, surprised. "For Oxford," another repeated, eyes wide. Soon they were smiling, congratulating me, hugging me one after another. The sadness of leaving mixed with the warmth of their happiness for me. I walked slowly between the shelves one last time, running my fingers lightly along the spines of the books. So many afternoons. So many quiet hours. So many small moments that had shaped me. At the door, I turned back for one last look. The sunlight streamed through the tall windows, just like it always had. The soft murmur of voices, the turning of pages it all continued, as if nothing had changed. But for me, everything had. I stepped outside, closing the door gently behind me, carrying the memories with me as I walked forward into the life that was waiting.