Senior Year Secrets

The first thing Amara noticed when she stepped through the university gate was how different everything looked. It was the same gate she had walked through countless times, the same security post, the same noisy roadside shops and students dragging their bags across the pavement. But somehow, it felt different. Maybe it was because this time she wasn't coming back as a junior student. She was a final-year student. Amara adjusted the strap of her bag and looked around the busy campus. Students were everywhere. Some were rushing toward their hostels, others were carrying boxes, and a few stood in groups, laughing like they had never left school. She smiled slightly. "Final year," she whispered. It sounded strange saying it out loud. For years, she had imagined this moment. She had imagined herself walking into campus for the final time, finishing her exams, taking pictures in her graduation gown and finally going home with her degree. Now that it was actually happening, she wasn't sure whether to be excited or scared. Her phone vibrated. Tessa: Where are you? Amara smiled. Amara: At the gate. The reply came almost immediately. Tessa: Don't move. I'm coming. Amara put her phone back into her bag. Five minutes later, she heard someone shouting her name. "Amara!" She turned. Tessa was running toward her with a huge smile, her handbag hanging from one shoulder. "Look at you!" Tessa exclaimed when she reached her. "Final-year student." Amara laughed. "Don't remind me." "Why? You should be happy." "I am." "You don't look happy." "I've been on the road for hours. Allow me to look tired." Tessa laughed and pulled her into a quick hug. "I missed you." "I missed you too." They started walking toward the hostel together. Tessa talked almost the entire way, updating Amara on everything that had happened before she returned. Who had broken up. Who had gotten together. Which lecturer had become stricter. Which students had already started panicking about their final project. Amara listened quietly. "So," Tessa said suddenly, "are you ready?" "For what?" "Final year." Amara sighed. "Honestly? No." Tessa laughed. "Good. At least I'm not the only one." They reached the hostel and stopped outside the building. Amara looked up at it. This place had been her home for years. She suddenly wondered how it would feel to leave it for good. "You know what scares me?" she said. "What?" "Everything is ending." Tessa's smile faded slightly. "I know." They stood quietly for a moment. Then Tessa shook her head. "Forget that. We still have a whole semester." "Exactly." "And we're going to enjoy it." Amara smiled. "That's what you always say before causing trouble." "I don't cause trouble." "You are literally trouble." Tessa laughed. They entered the hostel. For the next few hours, they unpacked, cleaned their room and complained about the heat. By evening, campus had become quieter. Amara sat on her bed, scrolling through her phone while Tessa was busy arranging her clothes. Then Amara received a notification. It was from their department. FINAL YEAR STUDENTS — IMPORTANT NOTICE Her smile disappeared. She opened the message. All final-year students were required to attend a departmental meeting the next morning. Attendance was compulsory. "What's wrong?" Tessa asked. "Departmental meeting tomorrow." "So?" "Compulsory." Tessa groaned. "Already?" Amara nodded. She put her phone down and stared at the ceiling. The semester hadn't even properly started, and she already felt tired. She didn't know it yet, but that meeting would be the beginning of a semester neither of them would ever forget. And by the time graduation arrived, Amara would finally understand one thing. Everyone had secrets. Including her.