The next morning felt unusually still.
No early alarm. No rushing to class. No Chloe scrambling around the room at the last minute.
Just quiet.
For the first time in a while, I actually had a free day.
I lay in bed longer than usual, staring at the ceiling and letting my thoughts drift without trying to control them.
Ryan wasn’t part of them anymore.
That realization still felt new, like something I had to keep checking was real.
Eventually, I got up, changed into a hoodie and jeans, and left the dorm.
The campus looked different during free hours.
Slower.
Less crowded.
More open.
I walked without a destination at first, just following paths I didn’t usually take during class days. The air felt warm against my skin, and for a moment, I almost felt normal.
Almost.
Students pas
