The Next Morning on Campus, the weight of the previous night still clung to me, but I pushed it down as I walked through the main building. I couldn’t afford to lose focus.
Not here, not now.
The air buzzed with the usual energy of campus life—students rushing to classes, groups chatting near the courtyard, the occasional professor strolling past.
It was almost laughable how normal it all seemed.
How none of them had any idea what was unraveling beneath the surface.
I spotted Clara near the library steps, waving when she caught my eye. I forced a smile, heading toward her.
“Hey,” she said, eyeing me. “You okay? You look…” She paused, searching for the word.
“Tired?” I offered.
“More like haunted.”
I huffed a small laugh. “I didn’t sleep much.”
Her expression softened. “Still deal
