Miriam got off the bus with her small bag on her shoulder. The campus was bigger and busier than she expected, with many buildings and students walking everywhere. Her heart beat fast. Everything felt new and a little scary.
The first day was overwhelming. Miriam struggled to find her lecture halls, got lost in the corridors, and spent most of the time following the signs. Other students seemed to know exactly where to go, chatting and laughing with friends, while she wandered from one building to another, feeling small and alone.
By the time she returned to the hostel, she was exhausted. She hadn't been able to settle in the campus hall, and the day had left her feeling small and overwhelmed.
The second day made the campus feel even bigger. Buildings stretched endlessly, pathways crossed in every direction, and students moved confidently as if they owned the place.
The hostel room was quiet, almost too quiet. Her bed sat alone in the corner. Miriam dropped her bag and sat down, unsure what to do next. She missed Westmore, her parents, and the comfort of home. Everything here felt strange and busy.
After a moment, she pulled out her phone and opened the hall group chat. New residents shared greetings, jokes, and questions about campus life.
Miriam smiled softly as she scrolled, feeling a small spark of connection amidst the loneliness.
Then, a new message appeared from an unknown number. Since arriving at university, she has received messages from several boys — some friendly, some bold — and she usually replies politely before ignoring them. So she wasn't surprised.
"Hi, I'm Desmond. I just wanted to introduce myself."
Miriam blinked, a little surprised, and typed carefully:
"Oh… hi. I'm Miriam. Nice to meet you."
After a pause, another message came:
"I just wanted to say… I like you. I hope that's okay to say."
Miriam stared at her screen, took a deep breath, and typed firmly:
"Please… are you here to study, or are you here to do all this dating stuff?"
A long pause. Then a single word:
"Okay."
Miriam set her phone down, cautious but curious. Unlike the others, he didn't make her feel overwhelmed. There was something different about him — something worth noticing.
The next day, she half-expected not to hear from him again. But her phone buzzed:
"Hi Miriam, how's your day going? Will you be at orientation today?"
Miriam smiled faintly. She wanted to see how this one would continue. After orientation, he wanted to meet her in person — maybe this could be the start of something unexpected.
She read the message again and smiled softly. Unlike the others, he didn't feel pushy or overwhelmed. He seemed calm, sincere, and kind.
She replied carefully: "Thank you… that's very kind."
The conversation ended there, but Miriam found herself thinking about him more than she expected. She wasn't ready for anything yet, but she couldn't deny a spark of curiosity.
Looking out the hostel window, she whispered: "Maybe this one will be different."
The hostel was a maze of narrow corridors and numbered doors. Miriam paused at every corner, trying to remember the layout. Voices echoed from other rooms, and the smell of cooking drifted through open windows.
She found a bench near the entrance and sat down, watching students move purposefully around her. Some smiled politely, some ignored her, and she realized how alone she truly was. Her phone buzzed with a hall group message, and she smiled faintly. Even in the confusion, the small connection made her feel less invisible.
With that thought, a quiet curiosity settled in her heart — wondering what this new chapter at university might bring, and whether this unexpected connection could turn into something more.