18 year old Sarah Mason relies on science. It's what she believes in, it's her religion. She comes from an academic family. But when her roommate Sophia claims that she shifts 'several times a week' to the magical make-believe world of Hogwarts, Sar...
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I think that I like my world the best when it is raining. When it rains, the ground seems to speak to me. It tells me that I am home, that everything I love is here and, in my hands, ready to be embraced. I can't help but wish that everyday was a rainy day, so that I don't have to say goodbye to these precious moments.
I think about this as I walk to the dining hall of my college, a black umbrella in my hands. All I hear is the squishing of leaves under my boots, and the sounds of the nearby early morning traffic in the distance. Commuters going into the city of Seattle to start their jobs, heading to Amazon and Microsoft or whichever tech company they are employed at. There's far too many of them in this relatively small metropolitan.
I attend the University of Washington, but it wasn't my first choice. It was, however, my only choice. My parents wouldn't even let me consider another school. I try not to complain though, UW is a great school. It's diverse and has an amazing library. Dorm life isn't too bad. My roommate Sophie is nice. She's an English major and isn't too loud or messy.
I finally reach the dining hall and walk down the steps to the entrance. It's 7 am, so it's not too crowded. College students wake up as late as they can, and I can understand that. We're all just perpetually tired. UW is a competitive school, and you must apply to your major separately once you get in. My biggest problem right now is I have no idea what I want to major in.
I settle in at a table after I grab breakfast and pull out my laptop, opening my notes from my last lecture. I have my philosophy lecture in an hour and a half, and I can hardly keep up. My brain doesn't seem to function on the same wavelength required to fully understand philosophy. Philosophy seems too imaginative for me, too much wondering and questioning. I prefer logic and hard, real facts. Things I can tangibly see and feel.
The dining hall is cold, and I pull my black blazer a little tighter around me as I wait for my laptop to start. I need a new laptop so bad. But I'm unemployed and I can't afford one right now. So, I use a Dell that my mom got me a few years ago. I'm extremely grateful for it, even if it isn't a MacBook or a newer laptop. It works, and that's good enough for me.
I sniff my eggs a little reluctantly and start eating them before they get cold. Every few bites I chug down a swig of my coffee, trying to eat as quickly as I can so that I can get started on reviewing my notes. I'm not the best at multitasking, and I really need to focus so that maybe I can attempt to learn at least something. While I'm pigging out (and probably looking super messy with eggs on my lips) my roommate sits down beside me.
"Hey Sarah. You're up early today." My roommate, Sophie, isn't someone I would call a friend. At least, not a close friend. I don't really have any close friends, just acquaintances. And by proximity and chance, Sophie is the closest "friend" I have. She looks kind of mousy, but in a good way. She has medium length almond hair, and dark brown eyes. If you were walking down the street and spotted her, I don't think she'd stand out. But if it was just you and her in a room, then you'd notice her. Sophie reminds me of an ancient book. A little beige, but beautiful.
