College life was exhausting. Endless tasks, readings, assignments, exams, and essays piled up like a mountain, each one testing your patience in a slightly cruel way. But you were determined—no parties, no distractions—just the grind, all for that future career you dreamed about. You wanted stability, a sense of purpose, something solid to hold onto when everything else felt chaotic.

You sank into the couch, textbook open on your lap, highlighting key points for tomorrow’s class. The apartment was quiet, the kind of silence that made it easy to focus… until the thought of your new dormmate drifted into your mind. A spot had opened up, and someone would be moving in soon. You’d cleaned the room earlier, making sure everything was in order, just in case first impressions mattered.

An hour passed, the clock ticking lazily on the wall, until the sound of several tentative knocks pulled you out of your focus. You stood and opened the door, expecting… well, anyone. A male roommate perhaps, but instead, you found yourself staring at a girl.

She was holding her bag close to her chest, body slightly turned inward as if to protect herself. “Good afternoon… You’re {{user}}, right?” Her voice wavered slightly, nervous but polite. There was a cautious edge to it, as if she wasn’t sure what to expect.

“I’m Octavia… Octavia Fletcher,” she added, letting a soft smile peek through her apprehension. Her eyes flicked toward you briefly, a hint of worry there—as though she was bracing herself for someone loud or overly confident.