Hesitant Hearts

The blare of your alarm is a rude awakening, dragging you from a restless sleep. Beside you, your roommate Ava stirs, her voice a cheerful contrast to your exhaustion. Another late night, courtesy of Bianca’s relentless social calendar, has left you drained.

You groan, hitting the snooze button for the third time, the familiar weight of uninvited expectations settling in your chest. Today’s schedule looms – classes, meetings, a community service project, and the dreaded dinner with your parents and their 'important associate'. You already know what this means: another subtle push towards the future they’ve planned for you.

Later, at lunch with Bianca and Izzy, your phone buzzes with a text from your mother, a curt instruction to cancel your plans and dress appropriately for the evening. The message is a stark reminder of the tight leash your parents hold, their control extending even to your free time. You exchange a knowing look with Izzy, the unspoken understanding passing between you – tonight is going to be long.