Chapter Three: The Last Year
1317 Words
The beginning of Ethan Walker and Sophia Bennett’s fifth year at Pacific State University felt different from every other year they had spent on campus.
The excitement of being freshmen was long gone.
The uncertainty of their early years had disappeared.
Now they were seniors.
Only a few months stood between them and graduation.
As Ethan walked across campus on the first day of the semester, he couldn’t help noticing how much had changed.
The nervous teenagers who had arrived years earlier were gone.
In their place stood young adults preparing to enter the real world.
The responsibility felt heavier than ever.
Engineering had become even more demanding.
Senior projects, research assignments, laboratory work, and final examinations consumed most of their time.
Sleep became a luxury.
Free time became rare.
But throughout it all, Ethan and Sophia remained inseparable.
If one of them was in the engineering building, chances were the other wasn’t far away.
Their classmates often joked that they should receive a joint degree since they spent nearly every hour together.
Neither minded.
After five years, their relationship had become the foundation of their lives.
One afternoon, Ethan sat in the engineering laboratory staring at a complex design simulation on his computer screen.
His eyes burned from exhaustion.
The deadline for his senior project was approaching rapidly.
He had spent the previous night working until nearly three in the morning.
A soft knock interrupted his concentration.
He looked up.
Sophia stood in the doorway carrying a familiar paper bag.
Ethan immediately smiled.
“You did it again.”
“What?”
“You brought food.”
Sophia entered the room.
“You haven’t answered any of my messages today.”
“I’ve been working.”
“Exactly.”
She placed the bag beside him.
Inside was a grilled chicken sandwich, chips, and a bottle of juice.
His favorites.
Ethan shook his head.
“You know, one day I’m going to pay you back for all these meals.”
Sophia laughed.
“I’ll be waiting.”
“I’m serious.”
“So am I.”
Ethan looked at her.
“What if I never become successful?”
The question surprised her.
She immediately sat beside him.
“Why would you ask that?”
“Because graduation is getting close.”
“And?”
“What if I can’t find a job?”
Sophia stared at him for a moment before speaking.
“Ethan, do you know why I’ve believed in you for five years?”
He shrugged.
“No.”
“Because every time life gets difficult, you keep going.”
Her voice remained calm and confident.
“Most people quit when things get hard. You don’t.”
She pointed toward his computer screen.
“Look at everything you’ve accomplished.”
Ethan followed her gaze.
There were moments when he forgot how far he had come.
Moments when fear drowned out confidence.
But Sophia always seemed capable of reminding him.
“You’ll succeed,” she said.
“Maybe not immediately.”
“Maybe not easily.”
“But you will.”
Ethan smiled.
Hearing those words from her somehow made them feel true.
The semester moved quickly.
Assignments turned into presentations.
Presentations turned into final projects.
Final projects turned into examinations.
Before they knew it, graduation season had arrived.
The campus buzzed with excitement.
Families traveled from across the country.
Students took photographs everywhere.
Everyone celebrated years of hard work finally paying off.
On graduation morning, Ethan stood outside the ceremony venue adjusting his cap and gown.
His parents had arrived earlier that morning from Arizona.
His mother couldn’t stop crying.
His father couldn’t stop smiling.
Both looked incredibly proud.
Across the courtyard, Sophia stood with her family.
Her parents were dressed elegantly.
Her younger brother carried a camera and spent most of the morning taking pictures.
When Sophia spotted Ethan, she immediately walked toward him.
For a moment, the noise of the crowd faded away.
“You made it,” she said softly.
“We made it.”
Her smile widened.
“Five years.”
Ethan nodded.
“Five years.”
Neither could quite believe it.
The countless lectures.
The impossible assignments.
The late-night study sessions.
The sacrifices.
The struggles.
Everything had led to this moment.
A university official announced that graduates should begin taking their seats.
The ceremony was about to start.
Before leaving, Sophia squeezed Ethan’s hand.
“I’m proud of you.”
The words touched him deeply.
“I’m also proud of you."
Minutes later, they joined thousands of graduates preparing to receive their degrees.
When Ethan’s name was called, cheers erupted from his family.
When Sophia’s name was called, her parents stood and applauded proudly.
It was one of the happiest days of their lives.
Yet neither realized how quickly things would change.
A week after graduation, reality arrived.
The structure of university life disappeared overnight.
There were no lectures.
No assignments.
No campus routines.
Instead, there was a new challenge.
Finding employment.
At first, Ethan remained optimistic.
He had earned excellent grades.
His professors had praised his work ethic.
His engineering degree was respected.
Finding a job should not have been difficult.
At least that was what he believed.
Weeks passed.
Applications turned into rejections.
Interviews led nowhere.
Companies thanked him for applying before choosing candidates with more experience.
The pattern repeated itself again and again.
By the second month, frustration began replacing confidence.
Sophia noticed the change immediately.
One evening, they sat together at a coffee shop overlooking San Diego Harbor.
Ethan stared silently at his laptop.
Another rejection email had arrived.
Sophia read the disappointment on his face.
“No luck?”
He shook his head.
“No.”
“They don’t know what they’re missing.”
Ethan forced a smile.
“I appreciate the encouragement.”
“I’m serious.”
He closed the laptop.
“I’m starting to wonder if I chose the wrong career.”
Sophia reached across the table.
“No.”
“What if engineering isn’t enough anymore?”
“Then learn something else.”
The suggestion caught his attention.
“What do you mean?”
Sophia leaned forward.
“The world is changing.”
“Technology is growing every day.”
“People are making money online now.”
Ethan listened carefully.
“I’ve been reading about software development, web design, digital marketing, and artificial intelligence.”
She shrugged.
“Maybe you should learn one of those skills.”
The idea remained in Ethan’s mind long after their conversation ended.
That night, he began researching digital skills.
The more he learned, the more interested he became.
People across America were earning income remotely.
Some worked for international companies.
Others served clients around the world.
Many earned in dollars.
For the first time in weeks, Ethan felt hopeful again.
The following morning, he purchased online courses and began studying.
Hours turned into days.
Days turned into weeks.
While other graduates focused solely on traditional job applications, Ethan immersed himself in learning new digital skills.
Sophia supported him every step of the way.
She encouraged him when lessons became difficult.
She celebrated small victories.
Most importantly, she continued believing in him when he struggled to believe in himself.
Neither of them knew that these new skills would eventually transform Ethan’s life.
Neither of them knew they would lead him to extraordinary success.
Neither of them knew they would also become the reason everything between them would eventually fall apart.
For now, they remained focused on the future they still planned to build together.
A future that seemed closer than ever.
A future Ethan hoped would soon include a marriage proposal.
As he sat in front of his computer late that night, studying digital systems and remote work opportunities, he smiled.
Maybe this was the opportunity he had been searching for.
Maybe his breakthrough was finally coming.
He had no idea how close it actually was.
- Writer
