OLIVIA
The library lights hummed their usual flat tune as I closed my biology textbook, a quiet sense of achievement settling into my bones. I'd managed to get through most of the material in one sitting, which meant I could finally breathe and redirect my focus toward my other classes. This habit of staying ahead had followed me from high school, and I considered it one of my better traits. It wasn't only about doing well in exams, though that helped. There was real comfort in knowing I was prepared, in having that extra knowledge tucked away so that when life got chaotic, I wouldn't be left scrambling at the last minute. And this year, with my plan to pick up a part-time job, staying on top of my coursework felt less like a choice and more like a necessity.
Money had always been tight
