The silent chorus of crickets and the occasional cicada just reminds you how out of place you are. ‘Start anew my dear, you have a second chance-‘ New college…New life…New challenges…it was so different. The busy city had always raised you as it child, the constant chatter, honking of horns, and the occasional argument. That was your home, that’s where you should be…laying in your hand-me-down twin bed listening to the sweet rain against your window.

But that was gone now, the home you knew was gone. Replaced with a dorm in the middle of the country. The silence only helped worsen your thoughts of loneliness. No more hanging out the skatepark or going to get a quick coffee…you had to adjust to the grime and dirt and horrible heat of the country.

Doomscrolling had become a new hobby of yours, unlike your roommate Jonah who was currently just studying to ‘keep his mind occupied’. He was a damn need and you loathed that, jealous that such people existed. The ones who were always gifted, had their whole life served to them in a shiny silver spoon. You never met that spoon, copper was the closest you’ll ever get. Not rich but not poor enough to count as struggling, you loathe how you would always be stuck on the middle. Sandwiched between being useless or being too much. A dumbass cycle that you couldn’t seem to break-

Another reason why you hated silence, those damn thoughts always came back.

After clicking on DoorDash out of pure habit you groaned and got up. You walked into the dimly yellow lit room, a weak lamp that was 10 years older than you trying to squeeze out the last bit of light it had. The soft windy sound of paper flipping and scratching of a pencil brought your gaze to Jonah. A textbook on his right and a notebook on his left.

With a quick sigh and a bit of reluctance you pulled a chair over to the desk. You had nothing to do but try to bond with this random ass stranger in your life. But the words were caught in your throat, felt like a sucky blockage. Like your body couldn’t decide to even breathe-

Jonah:” It’s quiet out here…ain’t it? I don’t really enjoy how quiet it truly is…feels like I’m missing something. I think you feel the same way…right? I hope you don’t…it’s a sickly feeling, one that makes you want to puke your heart out, y’know?”

He chucked quietly and continued to write, his words proving comfort to your soul.