Chapter 12 - The Freshman Dorm|
The campus in Boston was a sprawling maze of historic brick buildings and ancient, towering oak trees. The autumn air was crisp, carrying the distinct scent of old paper and turning leaves. We spent three grueling hours carrying boxes up to the fourth floor of her dormitory, navigating crowded stairwells filled with nervous freshmen and tearful parents.
"I think the mini-fridge should go in this corner," Lily said, pointing to a small alcove near the window.
"Are you sure?" I asked, wiping a bead of sweat from my forehead. "It might block the radiator when winter comes."
"My roommate, Chloe, said she wanted to put her desk near the heater. So the fridge goes here," Lily reasoned, sliding the heavy appliance into place with a determined push.
The room was small, smelling faintly of industrial cleaner and stale coffee, but Lily was already transforming it. She hung up fairy lights, arranged her textbooks with meticulous care, and carefully positioned the framed photograph of Anna right in the center of her new desk. The smartwatch on her wrist beeped, signaling a calendar reminder.
"Time for the mandatory hall meeting," she announced, glancing at the glowing screen.
"I suppose that is my cue to leave," I said, feeling a sudden, unexpected tightness gripping my chest.
Lily walked over and wrapped her arms around me, hugging me tighter than she had in months.
"You are going to be okay, Dad," she whispered against my shoulder.
"I am supposed to be the one comforting you," I replied, my voice slightly hoarse.
"I know. But we both know you are the one who is going to cry on the drive home."
"I will have you know I bought extra sunglasses specifically for that purpose."
She laughed, a bright, resilient sound that echoed off the cinderblock walls of the dorm room.
"Call me when you get back to the house," she instructed. "And please don't spend the whole night staring at my empty room."
May you like
"I make no promises," I smiled, kissing the top of her head.
As I walked down the busy hallway and turned to look back one last time, she was already chatting with a girl from down the hall. She was not the frightened twelve-year-old girl hiding from Evelyn’s wrath anymore. She was an independent college student, stepping confidently into a world that she had chosen for herself. I walked out of the building, letting the crisp Boston air fill my lungs, knowing I had done my job well.
