ACIR HILLS I wanted nothing more than for the ground to swallow me whole. Embarrassed? Ashamed? Horrified? Nothing can describe how I entirely felt right now. It was dumb of me to assume that he was going to kiss me. f***k! I just made a fool out of myself. Bathed in the muted hues of late autumn, the university campus provided a picturesque backdrop to my tumultuous day. A gentle breeze stirred the fallen leaves, creating soft rustling beneath my steps. The air, chilled and crisp, hinted at the imminent arrival of winter, the scent of decaying foliage weaving a bittersweet tapestry that mirrored my conflicted emotions. Wasting no time, I approached the registrar’s office, and I requested a withdrawal form for my repeat class. A woman handed me the document, oblivious to the internal

