They stared into each other's eyes, words trapped in their throats. Neither spoke. Not him. Not her. Emotions raged inside them. Was this destiny—a second chance?
***
Life is like a train. Always moving, always carrying us forward. It slows down at stations, gives us moments to breathe, and then it starts again. That's how it felt to me.
I never imagined I'd leave my country after my Bachelor's degree. Yet here I was, holding a scholarship I hadn't even dreamed of, on my way to another country to finish my graduation. Life has its surprises.
And I wasn't alone. Ryan, my college friend, was with me. So was Valen—someone I'd met during my Bachelor's days. We clicked from day one, and soon enough, Solace, Ryan, and Valen became the most known trio in Brighton.
"Hey, Solace. Where's your focus, man?"
Ryan's voice jolted me back to reality. He leaned forward, his blue shirt creasing, white pants too bright for the train's dim light. His grin was so wide it nearly split his face in two, eyes shining like he'd just unwrapped his favorite toy.
"I'm sorry. What were you saying?" I asked.
"Man, pay attention when someone speaks to you. I was talking about us! Can you believe we're actually going to study in Euria?"
Before I could answer, Valen's voice came from the side. Calm. Cutting.
"Ryan. We're not going sightseeing. Be serious."
Valen, with his sharp glasses, black hair, and steady green eyes, didn't even look up from the book in his hands.
"Come on now, don't be a party popper," Ryan shot back. "I know we're going there to study, but that doesn't mean we can't enjoy ourselves."
At last Valen closed the book, adjusting his glasses. "Enjoy yourself, sure. But your excitement's too much. You're practically bouncing like a monkey."
Valen and Ryan's banter blurred into the background as I stared out the window. The plane sliced through a sky thick with drifting clouds.
Past, huh?
The word lingered. Clouds moving, time moving, life moving. Everything drifts past.
Except her.
She's supposed to be my past. But no matter how far I go, she clings to the edges of me. Even now, with a new life waiting below the clouds, there's still a space in my heart carved out in her name.
***
The plane dipped slightly, and the city came into view beneath the clouds — a blur of lights and rooftops stitched together like a painting.
Ryan pressed his face to the window. "We're really here," he whispered. For once, he wasn't shouting.
The wheels hit the runway with a jolt, and the plane slowed, trembling as it rolled down the strip. The familiar ding of seatbelts echoed through the cabin. Passengers stretched, stood, reached for their bags.
Valen closed his book and slipped it into his backpack. "That was smoother than I expected," he said.
Ryan grinned. "See? Even the plane knows we're meant to be here."
I smiled faintly, unbuckling my belt. Meant to be. Those words stirred something I didn't want to feel.
The airport smelled like cold air and coffee. Announcements played in a language I barely understood. As we walked past the terminals, a wave of realization hit me — I was really here. Far from Tevart City. Far from everything that once felt like home.
***
By the time we reached the dormitory, night had settled over Ilinus. The campus looked alive — students dragging suitcases, laughter echoing across the courtyard, street lamps flickering under the wind.
Our dorm, "Hall B," stood near the edge of the main square. Old brick, ivy creeping up its sides, windows glowing with yellow light.
Inside, the walls smelled faintly of paint and dust. The receptionist handed us our room keys.
"Room 207, Mr. Daren," she said, her accent soft but precise.
Ryan was already bouncing. "Room 208! Right next to you, Sol!"
Valen adjusted his glasses. "209. Guess we're keeping the trio intact."
Our rooms were small but tidy — a bed, a desk, a wardrobe, a single window overlooking the campus. Ryan dumped his bag on his bed and fell backward with a satisfied groan.
"Finally! Freedom!"
Valen rolled his eyes but smiled. "Freedom with coursework and deadlines."
I dropped my luggage by the desk and sat on the bed. The sheets were crisp. The silence felt foreign. Through the window, I could see students laughing outside, headlights tracing across the courtyard.
For them, this was a beginning.
For me… I wasn't sure yet.
I stared out at the city lights, the cold air brushing through the half-open window. Somewhere, far away in this same city, was a past I hadn't escaped.
And maybe—without knowing—it was waiting for me, too.