“My heart is so full of you, I can hardly call it my own.”
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The sky hadn’t woken up yet.
It hung above the city like a velvet curtain—bruised, still, and breathless. Not a single crack of light. Just the hush of a world too early, too unsure. Even the streetlamps seemed hesitant, casting soft pools of gold that barely touched the slick, glistening pavement.
Before Daddy could circle around and open the door for me, I slipped out of the car quickly, my satchel bouncing at my hip. I tucked my umbrella deep inside, right next to my wallet and my favourite strawberry-scented hand cream.
Honestly, it was embarrassing how precious that umbrella had become to me. Like I’d stolen a part of him... and I was never giving it back.
“I’ll walk you to class,” Daddy announced, locking the car with a beep as he adjusted the sleeves of his coat.
“No, Daddy, really… I can go by myself.” I turned around, my voice soft but urgent, a feeble protest. “It’s just a lecture. I’ll be okay.”
“Nonsense,” he replied smoothly, already placing his hand at the small of my back. “I said I’ll walk you. It’s your first day. Let me just make sure everything’s in order.”
Mama didn’t budge from her seat. She just leaned against the door, arms crossed, her red nails gleaming under the sky. “You’ll do great, angel. And if anyone asks, just tell them your mama’s hotter than theirs.”
“Mama, please.”
“No, really. Give them something to talk about.”
She winked and slid back inside the car, pulling out her phone with a satisfied hum like she’d done her job for the day.
I just sighed and followed Daddy up the steps.
The corridor smelled like old books and floor polish, with students rushing by in every direction. Daddy walked beside me like he owned the place, nodding at professors, security guards, even the barista in the café window like they were his long-lost friends.
“That’s Professor Lane,” he muttered, gesturing toward a man in tweed. “He’s the HOD of Biomedical Sciences. If you ever need to reach out for research opportunities, I’ve already saved his number in your phone.”
I quickened my steps just to keep up. “Right.”
“And see that lady there? That’s Mrs. Campbell. She heads Student Services. You remember the talk we had last night about mental health and student wellbeing? If anything’s ever wrong, I want you to go straight to her, alright?”
