(Clara)
The lecture hall buzzed with noise as students filtered in, voices overlapping with the sound of chairs scraping against the floor.
For once, I wasn’t anxious.
Okay… maybe that was a lie.
But at least I wasn’t spiraling.
I adjusted the sleeves of my hoodie and slid into my usual seat beside Ethan, setting my coffee down carefully before pulling out my notes.
“You’re early,” Ethan said, looking mildly impressed.
“I’m trying something new,” I replied. “It’s called academic stability.”
He snorted. “Sounds fake.”
I smiled despite myself.
Things had felt… lighter lately.
Not perfect. Not completely settled. But lighter.
I had spent the last few weeks forcing myself to focus on school instead of getting trapped inside my own head. The first in-course test results had helped t
