only yours[ᵒⁿ ʰᵒˡᵈ]

chapter 1

Cilia Eros

DO YOU EVER WONDER what happens after death? What happens once everything goes away?

Well I do, and that is precisely what I'm doing here in the comfort of my dorm room at 4:23 am. I've never been a strong sleeper and always seem to find myself walking around in the dark of night to my destined spot behind the college. Underneath the tree with a gap between the leaves revealing an open sky, full of gleaming stars.

I've always found comfort in the night sky as it manages to put me in my own zone—alone in my thoughts without anyone to bother me. I'm here sat underneath my bed looking up at the fairy lights I attached to the shelving, alone in my mind about everything. My cat Marlene seated on my lap, purring as she sleeps.

I seem to have blinked and I hear my friends alarms go off; the annoying sound travelling through my head like a migraine, pulsing tunes in my ears. I hear a groan and I huff a laugh at her, pulling the silk curtain covering my den apart to get a view of her. Marlene jumps out of my lap to go and greet my friend who attempts a smile at the cat.

My head peeks through and my eyes squint at the beams of light coming through the window, adjusting to the sight. Alyssa sits up in her spot with her bed hair stuck to the drool on her chin, she glances over to me and she looks at me in shock.

Clearing her throat, "You're awake already?" I nod and crawl out from under my space, stretching my limbs yawning as I do so, "Have you slept at all?"

"Don't you worry about me aly," she raises her eyebrow at me before dragging her hand down her face, "I have, I promise." She smiles at me and climbs out of bed—her pyjamas rolled up from movement in her sleep.

I laugh watching her fall into the bathroom, her eyes closing at the bright bulb of light. She shuts the door and I hear the shower run. In the midst of the almost silence my phone begins ringing and I sigh reading 'Samuel:)' on the contact.

"Hi!" I answer the phone to him stuffing his mouth with what I think is cereal, "How are you on this fine morning?" I roll my eyes at his formality and dismiss his question.

He looks at me, eyes studying my facial features and he eventually sighs when he sees the dark under eyes, the pale skin and the tired look shown, "You didn't sleep again?" I shake my head putting my finger over my lips in a 'shushing' manner.

"I know, it's bad," I drop my head forwards and he sadly smiles at me, "Look, I'll sleep tonight I swear but there was just a-lot on my mind!" I throw a dramatic gesture into the conversation.

"I believe you." He smiles at me, a genuine one before changing the topic, "Did you know we have a new criminology professor? Apparently he's some mysterious, strict man! And he doesn't let up for anyone." He groans exaggerating his emotions.

"What's so bad about that? Maybe he just feels out of place." I suggest, looking down and pulling at the skin in my fingers. A habit I have. I hear a scoff and look up to find him looking at me in disbelief.

"Yeah well, I doubt that," he moves his bowl aside and comes closer to the camera making me frown before letting out a slight snort at his antics. Whispering he says, "I also heard he's quite good looking, if you know what I mean." He winks at the camera and I groan cupping my face with my hands.

A voice emits from the background, "Excuse you, Samuel Els!" I turn around and see Alyssa enter the room wearing only a towel—with one also wrapped around her auburn hair, "We don't hit on teachers, not after last time."

My eyes widen at the hint as to what happened last year, "Alyssa!"

"Yeah, Alyssa. Not cool!" Samuel acts all offended, sticking his middle finger up at the screen he gets startled as his roommate appears behind him, "Okay I'll meet you guys in ten, bye!" He kisses the camera before hanging up and I throw my phone elsewhere.