Whispered Secrets • BrightWin

Five

FIVE

The day dawned with the same sense of urgency that accompanied Xio's journey through medical school. The corridors echoed with the hum of anticipation as the new academic year unfolded. Xio, clad in the white uniform that symbolized both responsibility and expectation, navigated the labyrinthine hallways. His surroundings, filled with the scent of antiseptic and the distant murmur of students engaged in animated conversations, felt like a world apart from the archery range and the dreams he once held dear.

His father, steadfast in his commitment to the family legacy, had seen to it that Xio's path was irrevocably aligned with the pursuit of medicine. The weight of expectations, the unspoken compromise between filial duty and personal aspirations, rested heavily on Xio's shoulders.

With determination etched on his face, Xio navigated the labyrinthine corridors, his backpack laden with the weight of textbooks and responsibilities. Time seemed to slip through his fingers, and in his haste, he approached the lift, hoping to defy the ticking clock.

As he strode his way to the corridors, he noticed a fellow student standing nearby, engrossed in sorting through a stack of papers. Seizing the opportunity, Xio decided to break the silence.

"Hey, excuse me. Do you know where they've moved the anatomy lab this year? I heard they rearranged some departments." Xio started.

"Oh, hey! Yeah, they shifted it to the third floor, near the east wing. You can't miss it. Just follow the smell of formaldehyde, and you'll be there." Looking up from the papers, the fellow student noticed Xio approaching.

Xio chuckled nervously, grateful for the information. "Thanks! I'm still trying to get my bearings on this new layout. It feels like a maze."

The fellow student chuckled in agreement, nodding in understanding. "Tell me about it. I got lost twice this morning. Anyway, good luck finding your way. Oh, and welcome to the medical student maze!"

Xio nodded his thanks, appreciating the camaraderie in this shared experience of navigating the labyrinthine corridors. As he turned to head towards the elevator, the fellow student returned to their papers, and the sounds of shuffling documents resumed.

Xio's footsteps echoed in the corridor as he approached the elevator, a mix of excitement and nerves coursing through him. The exchange with the fellow student was a brief but reassuring moment in the midst of the hustle and bustle of the first day of the academic year. As he reached the lift, the din of rowdy laughter and animated conversations reached his ears. The cacophony of voices seemed to belong to a group of students, their laughter echoing through the hallway. In his haste to catch the elevator, Xio paid little attention to the source of the commotion, assuming it to be just another group of classmates caught up in the morning rush.

The lift doors slid open, and Xio stepped inside, eager to escape the auditory chaos. The chatter from the hallway faded as the doors closed, and for a brief moment, the hum of the elevator offered a reprieve from the surrounding hustle.

However, as the lift began its ascent, the sound of a lively conversation inside the elevator itself became apparent. It was a group of students, and Xio's presence seemed to draw their attention. Their chatter ranged from weekend plans to the intricacies of their latest coursework.

In the midst of their conversation, Xio overheard snippets of various topics. One student excitedly discussed a breakthrough in a research project, while another lamented the daunting workload of the upcoming week. Laughter punctuated the discussion, creating a backdrop of camaraderie that, for a fleeting moment, transported Xio back to the carefree days of his youth.