The sun had barely yawned over the horizon when a soft clatter of metal spoons echoed from the small kitchen in Alex's home. The scent of milo and freshly boiled yam filled the air. Alex sat at the edge of the wooden chair by the table, flipping through his class notes, the same notes he'd read three times already this morning. His eyes kept darting to the calendar pinned crookedly on the wall.
"Just a week to end-of-semester exams," he muttered. Uncle John walked into the room, buttoning his shirt, his brow furrowed like he was solving an equation in his head. "You've been up early every day this week, Alex," he said, sitting across from him. "I can see you're taking this exam seriously."
"I have to," Alex said with a half-smile. "It's Basic Nursing, Professional Adjustment, and Chemistry. These are not papers I can afford to joke with."
Uncle John reached for his cup and sipped slowly. "That's good. But make sure you eat, too. Don't let these books swallow your health."
"I'll be fine." Alex stood and zipped his backpack. "I just hope I do well."
"You will," Uncle John said, then added as he got up too, "It's been a while I dropped you off, hmm? Let's go. I'll take you today."
Alex looked up, surprised. "Really?"
Uncle John nodded and reached for his keys. "Come on."
---
Meanwhile, across campus, Kenny, Mike, and John stirred to life in their shared room. The beds were a mess of half-folded blankets and scattered textbooks. Mike stood stretching by the window. "You guys know today is our last lecture for Basic Nursing, Professional Adjustment, and Chemistry, right?"
"Yeah," Kenny groaned from his bed, rubbing his eyes. "Let's survive it and then crash at the food joint after class."
John was already up, flipping through a torn exercise book. "We need to do one more quiz today. I overheard the TA yesterday. Prepare."
"Thanks for the anxiety boost, John," Mike replied sarcastically as he shuffled toward the bathroom.
---
On the other side of the hostel, Emily stood near the mirror, adjusting the strap of her bag over her shoulder. She had dressed earlier than usual—a crisp, white blouse tucked neatly into her navy-blue trousers. Her braids were tied into a soft bun, and her light perfume gave the room a calming lift. She checked her small handmade Ghana bag, carefully packed with biscuits, drinks, and a small jotter. Angela was still curled under her blanket, groaning as she peeked out. "Why are you this put together so early?"
Emily smiled, picking up her chemistry notes. "It's our final lecture. You know Dr. Mensah always locks the door five minutes into class. I'm not risking it."
Angela slowly sat up, blinking. "Well, now I feel irresponsible." Emily laughed gently. "Don't worry, I packed enough snacks for two." She shook the Ghana bag teasingly. "Now hurry before I eat yours."
Angela stretched with a sigh. "God bless your kind heart."As the morning stretched on, each of them—Alex, the boys, Emily and Angela—moved toward campus, all with the buzz of upcoming exams behind their thoughts, unsure of what the day might bring but certain it was one of their final calm days before the storm of the semester's end.The morning bustle at the taxi rank was its usual mix of impatient horns, students hustling for space, and vendors shouting prices of roasted maize . Mike stood with one foot on the curb, checking his phone again. "He said his uncle was dropping him," Kenny said, squinting toward the road. John chuckled. "That's rare. Must be some special kind of motivation today."
"I'm telling you," Mike said, slipping his phone back in his pocket. "The exam pressure has gotten to all of us."
Just then, a familiar blue car slowed and pulled up by the rank. Alex stepped out, backpack slung over one shoulder, looking slightly more rested than usual.
"My people," he greeted, adjusting his shirt collar. "Wow, chauffeur service?" Kenny teased.Alex grinned. "Limited edition. Uncle just felt like being generous today."
"Then let's not waste this good energy," John said. "You all know Dr. Mensah doesn't joke with time. Once that door shuts—"
"You're done for," Mike finished, already starting to walk briskly. The others followed, laughter and hurried chatter trailing them as they made their way to the lecture hall. As they approached the front entrance, the sight of two familiar figures brought smiles to their faces. Emily and Angela stood just by the door. Emily looked radiant, her Ghana bag casually slung over her shoulder. Angela, however, wore the expression of someone still fighting sleep.
"Ei, sleeping beauty," Kenny called out.
Angela groaned. "Leave me. I was ambushed by my own pillow."
Emily laughed, adjusting the strap of her bag. "She'll wake up before the mid-topic quiz."Mike gave Angela a small nudge. "If not, we'll carry you in spirit."
Alex turned to Emily, the morning sun catching the soft shimmer in her hair. He gave her a warm, gentle hug—not too close, not too distant—and said, "Good morning, pal. Hope you slept well."
Emily smiled faintly, nodding. "I did. You?"
"Trying," Alex replied with a chuckle.
The group paused for a second, sharing glances. Kenny raised a brow at Mike, who raised both in return. John just shook his head with a knowing smirk.
Moments later, the large doors opened, and they all filtered into the lecture hall. The room was filling up fast, students slipping into rows with books in hand. Just as everyone settled, the back door clicked—and in walked Dr. Mensah.
Tall, slightly hunched from years of teaching, with glasses that always seemed to slide halfway down his nose, Dr. Mensah placed his files on the front desk and looked over the class.
"You're lucky today," he began with a dry smile. "I almost started without you."
A wave of laughter spread through the class. He walked to the whiteboard, uncapping his marker. "Now, I know it's the last lecture before the exams, so I'll go easy on you… but not too easy."
Another chuckle passed through the room.Dr. Mensah launched into his explanations—clear, paced, and occasionally laced with witty remarks. He outlined key concepts in chemistry, drawing diagrams and asking random students questions in the middle of his speech. Despite the subject's complexity, he made it engaging. Then, his tone shifted slightly.
"As you prepare for your exams," he said, pausing at the center of the room, "remember this—no amount of pressure justifies malpractice. It will not only cost you your results, but your dignity. Nursing isn't just a profession—it's a trust. You cheat here, you risk carrying that into the field. And out there, lives are involved."
The room quieted.
"Study hard," he added. "Make your mistakes now. Learn from them. But in the exam hall—be honest. Even if the answer escapes you." The weight of his words settled in the hall like a blanket. Students nodded quietly. The lesson continued, and though the topic was chemistry, Dr. Mensah was teaching much more.After wrapping up his explanations on a particularly tricky chemical reaction, Dr. Mensah paused, capped his marker, and turned to face the class. "Now," he said calmly, "take out a sheet of paper. Write your index numbers clearly at the top. We're going to do a little assessment." A low ripple of murmurs ran through the hall like a breeze through tall grass. "Ei, class quiz?" Kenny whispered to Mike, already digging into his bag. John sighed. "And I didn't even revise the notes from last week."
At the front, Emily and Angela exchanged glances. Even sleepy Angela was now fully alert, the last trace of her earlier grogginess replaced with determined focus. On the board, Dr. Mensah slowly wrote in bold:
Class Assessment Quiz – Basic Chemistry
The chatter grew louder for a moment—some surprised, some nervous. But then the room gradually quieted, eyes drifting to Dr. Mensah who, now pausing with the marker in hand, turned back to them with a raised brow. Without a word, the class understood. Silence fell completely.
Dr. Mensah then carefully wrote the question beneath the title. It was straightforward but required clear understanding, not memorization. The kind of question he always said would test your reasoning, not your cramming.
"You have thirty minutes," he said after placing the marker down. "No talking. No peeking. Just give it your best."
With that, he began walking slowly down the aisles, hands clasped behind his back. His sharp eyes scanned each desk as pens scratched against paper. The air was filled with quiet determination and the occasional sigh from someone stumped midway through a calculation. Even Angela, known for nodding off in long lectures, now sat up straight, brow furrowed as she scribbled furiously.
As he paced slowly past the fifth row, Dr. Mensah approached where Alex sat, head slightly tilted, deep in concentration. His handwriting was neat, each line of explanation flowing logically. His equations were balanced, and his thought process showed confidence and clarity. Dr. Mensah slowed his pace and stood a few steps behind Alex, quietly reading the developing answer. The corner of his lips lifted slightly in approval. Without warning, he reached out and gave Alex a gentle pat on the shoulder. "Well done," he said in a low but clear voice. "Keep up that level of reasoning." Alex froze momentarily, blinking in surprise. Slowly, he turned slightly to see Dr. Mensah standing there. A murmur swept through the lecture hall—heads turned, eyes wide. Emily looked over from her row, lips parting slightly. Kenny nearly dropped his pen.
"Dr. Mensah just praised someone?" Mike whispered, stunned. John grinned. "This guy is finished with the quiz already in his mind." Alex nodded quickly and muttered, "Thank you, sir," before returning to his work—though now, his heart beat just a little faster, warmed by the rare moment of recognition. For the rest of the thirty minutes, the class remained unusually serious. No one wanted to miss their shot at impressing the famously strict Dr. Mensah. The silence was focused and intense.
When the thirty minutes finally ended, Dr. Mensah called for papers to be passed forward row by row. "You may not all be correct," he said, collecting the piles, "but what I want is to see your reasoning. That is the beginning of being a good nurse."
The class exhaled in unison—relieved, drained, but somewhat proud.
And Alex? He was still quietly digesting what had just happened, his friends giving him curious, admiring glances, and Emily—well, she smiled to herself, feeling something stir inside her.
Outside the lecture hall, the sun cast a soft warmth across the walkways as students trickled out in small groups, buzzing with post-quiz chatter.
Zara stepped out alongside her two closest friends Clara and Amanda, sharp-tongued and witty, and Blessing, the ever-chill, observant one. The three of them had stayed in the front row for the assessment, as always. Zara held her books gently against her side, eyes scanning the small crowd ahead.
That's when she noticed him—Alex.
He was standing just a few steps away with his usual crew: Kenny, Mike, John, Angela, and Emily. They were all laughing, clearly light-hearted after the surprise quiz. And Alex... he was smiling—genuinely, from the corners of his mouth to the gleam in his eyes—as though something one of his friends had said had really amused him. He didn't notice Zara watching him, but that didn't matter.
There was something so effortless about him in that moment. The way he leaned slightly toward his friends, the way his eyes shone when he laughed. Zara found herself pausing for a second too long, the faintest curve of a smile forming on her lips. "You're staring again," Clara teased beside her, nudging her with a playful elbow. Zara blinked. "No, I'm not."
"Sure," Amanda chimed in, raising a brow. "Just like you didn't stare at him at the cafeteria last week." Before Zara could even muster a defense, Clara continued, flipping her braids off her shoulder dramatically. "Anyway, let's talk about that quiz. Dr. Mensah nearly got me shaking. But yo, that chemistry question? I killed it."
"Same," Blessing added. "But did you hear? He actually praised someone today. Like… publicly." Zara tilted her head, curious. "Who?"
"Guess." Clara smirked.
Amanda grinned. "Your boy."
Zara blinked. "Alex?"
"Mmhm. Apparently, he was writing so impressively that Dr. Mensah literally patted his shoulder and told him well done. I'm not even joking. Half the class turned to look." Clara gave her a dramatic stare. "I was shocked. He barely even says 'good morning' to students. But to praise Alex like that? Hmm. The guy must really be smart." Zara's heart skipped slightly. She looked back toward Alex, who was now adjusting his bag strap, still chatting with his friends. Something about the warmth in his demeanor lingered in her mind. She tried to shake it off with a soft laugh. "Well, good for him. He deserves it." But as they continued walking together toward the cafeteria, her thoughts lingered—not just on the praise, but on Alex himself. That smile. That focus during class. And how, no matter what her friends teased about, she couldn't help but notice the quiet fire in him… something even money couldn't buy. And she was sure now—she had definitely seen him somewhere before
❤️❤️
It had been during one of the school breaks, months before the semester began. Zara had visited her auntie who lived in the countryside — a quiet, humble village not far from where Alex had grown up. Her mother had insisted she spend some time with Auntie Grace, hoping Zara would get a breath of real life away from all the wealth and closed walls she had grown up in. Zara didn't complain. In truth, she found something calming about the village — the red clay roads, the silence at night, the early morning sounds of roosters and cooking pots. Her auntie was warm and lively, and Zara had enjoyed watching her work at the market, chatting with neighbors who didn't care about last names or luxury.
When it was time to return to the city, Zara boarded the rickety intercity bus from the dusty roadside station. It was crowded that day, and the bus was humming with chatter, body heat, and the occasional radio music leaking from someone's phone. She found a seat by the window near the middle row.
That was when she noticed him — a quiet boy with a duffel bag slung over his shoulder and worn shoes. He looked a bit lost, as though leaving behind a world he wasn't quite ready to say goodbye to. He sat just a row across from her, eyes mostly on the floor or peeking out the window. He didn't say much, but there was something about him — something thoughtful, even gentle — that drew her attention. They hadn't spoken. Not a word. But there were moments when their eyes met, and it felt like something passed between them. A silent recognition. A curiosity. A connection neither of them could name. She remembered he had gotten off in the city. And that was it. For months, she'd wondered who he was — and why that quiet boy from the village had stayed in her memory.Now here she was, seated in a high-tech cafeteria on campus, surrounded by friends who only spoke in social media tones and brand names. And that boy — Alex — sat just a few tables away, laughing quietly with his friends. He looked the same. A little older, a little more focused — but it was him.
Her heart did a tiny skip. A mystery solved.
Then her friend nudged her.
"Zara, hello?" Clara said, teasing. "You look like you've just seen a ghost."
Zara blinked out of her thoughts, smiling slightly. "No… just remembered something," she said softly, her gaze returning once more to Alex.
The cafeteria buzzed with chatter, chairs scraping, and the scent of warm food drifting through the air. Alex and his friends — Kenny, Mike, and John — had found a free table by the window. They dropped into their seats, exhausted but laughing from the intense class quiz earlier that morning. A few tables away, unknown to Alex, Zara sat with her friends, half-listening to them as her eyes occasionally drifted toward the boys — especially him. But for now, Alex was unaware of her presence. He leaned his elbow on the table, eyes tracing invisible patterns in his water bottle, still half in thought about the quiz. Just then, Emily reached into her handmade Ghana bag, the one she often carried, and pulled out a small packet of biscuits."Snacks, anyone?" she offered casually, placing them in the center of the table.
"Lifeline," Mike said, reaching first. "Bless you, Emily." They all chuckled. Alex looked at her, that same soft warmth flashing across his face. He hadn't said much to her since the morning hug — but it lingered in his mind. Suddenly, Emily's phone buzzed. She glanced at the screen, paused, then stood up with purpose.
"Where's she off to now?" John asked, brows raised. "Maybe she's got a date," Kenny teased, elbowing Alex subtly.
Alex just shook his head, half-smiling, watching Emily's form disappear into the hallway. Just a minute later, she reappeared — this time struggling slightly under the weight of four boxes of pizza and two large bottles of Coke.
"Whoa!" Mike exclaimed, sitting up straighter. Before she could wobble too far, Kenny jumped up, rushing to her. "Let me help with that, madam caterer," he said dramatically, grabbing the bottles with a grin. "Thanks," Emily said, a little breathless but smiling. As they returned to the table, setting everything down, the whole group looked between the food and each other in amazed confusion.
Mike blinked. "Emily… did you just… jump up like we were fighting for survival?"
"I saw a flash," John added with mock seriousness. "I thought someone had proposed." Laughter broke around the table. Emily brushed them off playfully, sitting down and opening the boxes. "It's the last lecture day for our major subjects," she said lightly. "A small treat to celebrate. No big deal."
"No big deal? You brought four boxes," Kenny said with a mouth full of biscuit, already reaching for a slice. Alex hadn't spoken yet. He was just… watching her.
The laughter faded into background sound for a moment as Emily met his eyes. Her smile shifted — subtle, warm, different. It wasn't playful or casual like before. This one had something else in it. Something honest. Something hopeful.
And Alex felt it — the quiet nudge of his heartbeat, the way his smile answered hers naturally. Maybe she hadn't said it out loud. But in that moment, he knew.
She still felt something.
The group had calmed into a comfortable rhythm now, laughter giving way to idle munching and soft chatter as slices of pizza disappeared and drinks passed around. "Next up," Mike said between bites, "Professional Adjustment. Honestly, I don't even know why it stresses me more than Chemistry."
"Because it's not just theories," Kenny replied. "It's mindset, ethics, and those long essays. You either get it or you don't."
John leaned back in his chair. "Let's form a group discussion after class, maybe tomorrow. We go over the lecture and past questions. Could help." Emily nodded. "That sounds like a plan. We should review the topic on leadership roles and delegation. Dr. Serwaa said it's a likely question." Alex, who had been unusually quiet in the last few minutes, finally stood up. "I'll be back in a sec," he said, brushing imaginary crumbs off his lap. "Mens' room." As he walked off, John turned to the others with a small shrug.
But before they could continue their chat, Emily also stood up, dusting her palms and adjusting the edge of her dress. "I need to make a quick call," she said, though she didn't look directly at any of them. She walked off—same direction as Alex. The table went quiet for a beat.
Kenny squinted. "Okay... what just happened?" Mike leaned forward, lowering his voice. "You all saw that, right?" Angela raised a brow, arms folded. "It could be nothing. But... it could also be something." John gave a lopsided grin. "I mean, they did have a moment earlier. 'Hope you slept well, pal?' Come on."
The group broke into quiet chuckles, stealing glances toward the hallway both Alex and Emily had walked through.Just a few tables away, Zara had paused mid-sip of her drink. Her friends were scrolling through their phones and chatting about someone's birthday party plans for the weekend, but she wasn't paying attention. Her eyes had followed Alex the moment he rose. And then, moments later, Emily followed in the same direction. She noticed the subtle change in the group's tone—how they leaned in, exchanged glances, then laughed quietly. She didn't know the joke, but she could guess the context. Her hand rested on her drink, unmoving. Emily again, she thought, watching the empty space behind them. Zara blinked slowly and turned her eyes away, but the feeling lingered. It wasn't jealousy—not exactly. But something about the timing, the closeness… the way Alex smiled at Emily earlier. And yet, the memory of that first silent moment on the bus with Alex—her moment—remained untouched in her mind.The wooden door of the men's urinal creaked open, and Alex stepped out, drying his hands with a tissue, looking calm and unaware of the quiet stir his absence had caused. As he made his way back toward their table, Mike leaned forward with a grin. "Guy, did you see Emily?" he asked, his voice laced with mischief. Alex slowed, confused. "Emily?"
Kenny sat up straighter, exchanging amused glances with the others. "Yeah. She said she was making a call—but she went the same direction as you." Alex stopped near the table, brows drawn together. "Huh? I didn't see her. I thought she went outside or something. She definitely didn't come to the restroom area." Now it was the friends' turn to frown. Angela tilted her head slightly, trying not to laugh. "Then where did she go?" John chuckled. "Maybe she was just... passing by the men's? Or maybe she thought she'd catch you." Mike grinned and wiggled his eyebrows. "Or maybe she wanted to confirm something."
Alex gave a nervous laugh, shaking his head. "You people should stop."
Before the teasing could escalate further, Emily reappeared—still coming from the same hallway, her phone pressed to her ear. She was speaking in a soft, quick voice, still engaged in the call. Her expression was calm, and she seemed unaware of the silent curiosity building in her absence. "I'll text you the rest later, okay?" she said gently. "Alright, love to mum too. Bye." She hung up as she reached the table, smiling lightly.
"Sorry about that," she said, sliding into her seat. "It was my cousin. She just arrived in town." Angela blinked. "Your cousin? Ohh…" Kenny narrowed his eyes playfully. "Your cousin who just happened to be located near the men's washroom?"
Emily paused, caught off guard. "What?"
The whole table burst into quiet laughter.
Alex gave her a half-grin, still amused. "They were just wondering why we both walked off in the same direction at the same time." Emily looked around at them all, realizing the misunderstanding. "Oh no, no—I stepped outside through the side entrance. I didn't even notice Alex left." Her voice was calm, but her eyes flicked to Alex's for a moment, almost as if checking if he believed her. He simply smiled, a little shrug in his shoulders.
"Sure," Mike teased, dragging the word. "We believe you." Emily rolled her eyes and reached for a slice of pizza. "You all are impossible. A few tables away, Zara had watched Emily return and saw the playful reactions ripple through Alex's group. She couldn't hear the conversation, but she could read the body language. The laughter. The looks. The light air between Emily and Alex.
And once again, the weight of the moment pressed quietly on her chest.With the final slice of pizza devoured and empty wrappers packed into Emily's bag, the group stood and made their way toward the lecture hall. A swarm of students from all over the nursing department flowed around them, everyone dragging their feet a little after lunch, some chatting, others flipping through notes as they walked. As they entered the hall, Kenny looked at the time. "Let's just hope this isn't one of those long, dragging lectures." John yawned. "Even a short one will feel long with this heat." They settled into seats halfway down the hall, Emily and Angela beside each other, Alex, Kenny, Mike, and John forming a loose row beside them. As the rest of the class filed in, a familiar figure took the floor at the front.
It was Mr. Asare, the class P.A. (Program Assistant). His glasses rested neatly on the bridge of his nose, and he carried a pile of printed papers under one arm.
"Good afternoon, everyone," he greeted, his voice composed but casual.
The chatter dimmed.
"I have a quick announcement," he began. "Your Professional Adjustment lecturer, Dr. Serwaa, won't be able to make it this afternoon. She had to attend an urgent faculty meeting." A soft wave of murmurs passed through the room.
"But don't relax too much," he continued, raising a hand. "She left some important pointers for your end-of-semester preparation. So please take notes."
Students pulled out pens and flipped open notebooks. "These are the key topics to focus on," he said, reading off a printed list. "Professional roles of the nurse, ethical principles in nursing, delegation and accountability, leadership in nursing practice, and the impact of cultural values in patient care."
He paused to let everyone catch up.
"These areas are very likely to show up in your final exams. So study them well. There will be a short quiz next week as well." After the announcement, Mr. Asare took a few questions, clarified the quiz format, and then dismissed the class around 3 p.m.At the edge of campus, under the shade of a tall mango tree near the library lawn, Ryan sat with his two closest friends Leonard, the laid-back realist, and Bella, the sharp, observant girl with a soft spot for deep conversations. The three had become inseparable since admission day.
Ryan leaned back against the tree trunk, one leg stretched, the other bent as he toyed with a blade of grass between his fingers. "I'm not gonna lie," he said, breaking the silence. "This semester came fast. Feels like we just started last week." Leo snorted. "And yet we're already drowning in revisions." Bella chuckled, sipping from her bottle of water. "You guys joke too much. But seriously, these exams… they're not playing." Ryan nodded, but his thoughts weren't entirely on the exams. His mind had been wandering lately — especially when he saw Emily in class and couldn't shake the weird energy between them. Still, he pushed it aside for now. "We've come far," he said. "We didn't know anything about the system when we first walked in here."
Leo looked up, smiling slightly. "Remember when Ryan submitted his first lab report without his index number?" Bella laughed. "And Dr. Mensah almost gave him a zero."
"Let's not talk about that," Ryan said with a chuckle, rubbing the back of his head.
They grew quiet again, watching as students passed by, laughing, talking, some hurrying toward hostels, others toward the cafeteria for round two of food. Then Bella leaned forward. "No matter what happens, we'll conquer the exams," she said. "You guys are sharp. We just need to stay focused." Ryan nodded slowly, looking out across campus. "Yeah. We'll pass. And maybe… maybe some other things will start making sense too."
Leo raised a brow. "Like?" Ryan gave a small smile but said nothing more.The golden afternoon sun stretched lazily across the courtyard, casting long shadows beneath the umbrella-covered benches where Zara and her two close friends — Clara and Amanda — were seated, sipping chilled drinks and laughing about a viral nursing meme Clara had just shown them.
Zara was radiant as always — her dark complexion glowing softly under the light, her laughter low and graceful. Her designer sandals crossed neatly at the ankle, her sleek ponytail catching the breeze. She looked every bit the calm, put-together girl everyone assumed she was. And then her phone rang. She glanced at the screen. "Mum calling..."
The smile vanished from her lips as quickly as it had formed. Her posture stiffened. The air around her shifted.
Clara noticed first. "Everything okay?" she asked. Zara didn't reply. She answered the call and turned slightly away from the table, voice lower, sharper now.
"Hello?"
There was a pause on her end as her mother spoke.
"Yes, I'm fine," she replied curtly. "No… I told you already, I'm still in class. Why are you asking again?"
Clara and Amanda exchanged glances.
Zara's tone grew tight, almost clipped. "No, I haven't heard from Dad. If he's not replying, then maybe he's—" she stopped herself, lowered her voice even more, and stepped away from the table. "Mum, I said I'm fine. Please don't start this now. I'm not in the mood." Her back was turned now, a few paces away, one hand gripping the edge of the bench, her voice barely audible. After a few more short replies, she ended the call and stood still for a moment, phone still in her hand, eyes distant. When she returned to the bench, Amanda was waiting with a cautious smile. "Was that your mum?"
Zara didn't sit down right away. She simply gave a tight nod, forcing a thin smile. "Yeah."
Clara tilted her head. "You okay? You kind of changed all of a sudden."
Zara hesitated. "We don't really talk much," she admitted, her voice quieter than usual. "When we do… it always feels like it's just to check if I'm doing something wrong."
Clara offered gently, "Want to talk about it?" Zara shook her head slowly, eyes drifting toward the distance—toward the lecture hall where she knew others were gathering again for Basic Nursing.
"Not now," she said. "Maybe later."
But inside, her chest was tight.
She didn't hate her parents—she knew they loved her in their own way. But being raised by a mother who was always on edge, and a father who was barely present—somewhere across oceans, always in a meeting—had left Zara with too many unspoken feelings. And she hated how even a simple phone call could turn her mood inside out. She pulled her bag closer and looked at the time. 4:50 PM. "It's almost time for the next lecture," she said quietly, her voice composed again. "Let's go." And just like that, Zara smiled again. But this time, it didn't quite reach her eyes.