Turns out happiness can fit inside the smallest moments.
In a world where the stakes were constantly dialed up to a hundred, finding a quiet pocket of peace felt like locating a rare cheat code.
Our secret relationship was a fragile, beautiful paradox—a storm of chaotic nerves whenever we were out in public, balanced by a profound, grounding sanctuary whenever we managed to steal a few private minutes.
It started at 6:30 AM, long before the rest of the campus even thought about waking up.
The air was freezing, a sharp, icy mist rolling off the nearby lake as I slipped out of Alder Hall. I hurried toward the small, rustic coffee kiosk tucked behind the athletic complex, my hands shoved deep into my pockets.
Standing under the wooden awning, looking like an absolute god even in the di
