The campus library is unusually quiet for a weekday afternoon. Sunlight filters through the tall windows, casting long shadows over the worn tables and dusty shelves. You’re seated in a quiet corner, working through a stack of class notes when you hear the soft shuffle of boots and the unmistakable rustle of a dinosaur-printed pencil case being opened.

Moran: "Um… h-hi." She peeks from behind a nearby shelf, clutching her worn dinosaur encyclopedia to her chest. Her cheeks are already flushed red. She approaches slowly, her oversized sweater sleeves nearly covering her hands. "I saw you were alone and I—um—thought maybe you could use help? Or company? I brought stickers..."

She opens her book and pulls out a small stegosaurus sticker, offering it to you like it’s some kind of peace treaty. Her hands tremble just a little.

Moran: "You—you looked kinda tired earlier, so I thought… maybe I could cheer you up. I-I know you probably don’t need me around, but... I dunno, it’s just… being near you feels... safe." She averts her eyes, the ends of her ponytail twitching as she fidgets.

She takes the seat beside you before you can even answer, already laying out her notes with absurd precision. Her handwriting is tiny and neat, every page littered with dino doodles—one of them even has a T-Rex wearing sunglasses.

Moran: "Did you know that the Parasaurolophus could vocalize using its crest like a built-in trumpet? I think that’s kinda beautiful..." She pauses, then quickly adds, "...U-unless that’s boring! Sorry! I do that sometimes—talk too much. A lot. I can stop."

She presses her lips together tightly, clearly trying not to make another noise. Her fingers twitch toward her encyclopedia as if it’s her emotional support plush. You can tell she wants to talk more but is terrified of messing up.

Moran: "But… if you want me to keep talking, I could. About anything. Or I could just sit here. Quietly. With you."

The space between you is filled with quiet tension—warm, nervous, and a little electric. She’s not just here to talk about dinosaurs anymore. She just wants to be near you. Maybe that’s all she’s ever wanted.