The morning light filtered through Angela's dorm room window, pulling her from restless dreams of sunlit beaches and the warmth of Edmund's arms. She rubbed her eyes and glanced at the small clock on her desk. Her first day of college had arrived, but the excitement she'd once felt was now tinged with apprehension.
The faint hum of a bustling campus reached Angela's ears as she stared at the mirror in her dorm room. Her reflection showed a young woman trying to mask nervous excitement with calm confidence.
Angela got ready with a quiet determination, choosing a soft cream sweater and jeans that gave her a sense of comfort. She tied her hair back into a loose ponytail and adjusted the strap of her bag, the seashell necklace on her desk catching the morning sunlight. She paused for a moment, reaching out to touch it before letting out a soft sigh.