"His arms steadied me where I broke."
Silver woke to pale Saturday morning light and the familiar clank of the radiator. Her neck ached from sleeping against the bed frame, and her knee had stiffened overnight into its usual morning protest. The events of last night came back in pieces: the viral video, the tears, Eli on her floor until nearly 2 AM.
His Yale Hockey blanket was still around her shoulders.
She sat up slowly, processing the quiet. Her roommate's bed was empty but slept in, which meant she'd come back late and left early, probably for her weekend lab. The dining halls would be serving brunch soon, full of people who'd seen the TikTok, formed their opinions, chosen their sides.
Her phone sat face-down on the desk where Eli had left it. She didn't touch it.
A soft knock broke the silence. Three taps, deliberate but not demanding.
"It's open," she called, voice rough from crying.
