The king of everything

Chapter three- New faces, new places

The bus rolled to a stop in front of the university gates, the towering buildings looming ahead like ancient sentinels welcoming me into a new world. I stepped off the bus, clutching the straps of my backpack tightly as I looked around. The campus was buzzing with life—students walked in every direction, some laughing in groups, others rushing to their next destination, while a few sat quietly beneath trees or on benches, absorbed in their own thoughts.

The sight of so many people was overwhelming. For a moment, I stood frozen on the sidewalk, unsure of where to go. A wave of anxiety hit me as I realized I was truly on my own now. No familiar faces, no comfortable routine—just me, a small fish in a vast new ocean.

I pulled out my phone, scrolling through the emails the university had sent me. My dorm assignment, my schedule, the orientation schedule—it was all there, neatly organized. But it didn't make the knot in my stomach go away. I took a deep breath, reminding myself of what my mom had said: *"Take it one step at a time."*

With a deep breath, I set off toward the dorms, following the map on my phone. The campus buildings rose around me, a mixture of modern architecture and older, ivy-covered brick structures that looked like they'd been there for centuries. It was beautiful, but intimidating.

As I walked, I passed groups of students, some carrying boxes, others laughing and talking animatedly. A few looked as lost as I felt, clutching maps or staring up at the tall buildings with wide eyes. It was a relief to know I wasn't the only one feeling out of place.

The dorms came into view, and my heart started to race. I found the building listed in my email and pushed open the heavy glass doors. Inside, the lobby was bustling with students moving in, greeting each other, and dragging suitcases up the stairs. The air smelled faintly of fresh paint and new beginnings.

I made my way to the check-in desk, where a student volunteer in a university t-shirt smiled brightly at me.

"Hey! Welcome to campus. Name?"

"Aaron," I said, my voice a little shaky. "Aaron Phillips."

The volunteer scanned the list, then handed me a keycard and a packet of information. "You're in Room 312. Elevators are down the hall on the right. If you need anything, just let us know. And don't forget, orientation starts tomorrow!"

I nodded, thanking her, and headed toward the elevators. My mind raced as I pressed the button and waited for the doors to open. Who would my roommate be? What if we didn't get along? I hadn't met many people before arriving here—just a few classmates from my high school who were attending different universities. Everyone else would be a complete stranger.

The elevator doors slid open, and I stepped inside, my reflection staring back at me from the mirrored walls. I looked tired, like the long journey and the weight of leaving home had drained me more than I'd realized. I leaned against the cool metal wall, closing my eyes for a moment as the elevator rose.

When it stopped on the third floor, I stepped out into a narrow hallway lined with doors. I found Room 312 and took a deep breath before sliding the keycard into the slot. The door clicked open.

The room was small but not cramped—two beds, two desks, and a couple of dressers. One side was already claimed, with a suitcase propped against the bed and a few personal items scattered on the desk. My roommate hadn't arrived yet, but they were obviously on their way.

I dropped my backpack onto the empty bed and stood in the middle of the room for a moment, taking it all in. This would be my home for the next year. It felt strange, standing in a place that wasn't quite mine yet, but would soon become familiar. I wondered what stories these walls had already seen, what late-night conversations and moments of solitude had unfolded here.

A knock on the door pulled me from my thoughts. I turned just as the door swung open, revealing a tall guy with curly hair and a wide grin.

"Hey, man! You must be Aaron. I'm Sam." The guy dropped his suitcase and extended a hand.

I shook it, relieved that my roommate seemed friendly. "Yeah, that's me. Nice to meet you."

Sam looked around the room, nodding approvingly. "Not bad, huh? Could be worse. I heard some of the dorms have, like, mold or whatever."

I chuckled, relaxing a bit. "Yeah, I guess we lucked out."

Sam threw his suitcase onto his bed and started unpacking, chatting casually as he went. I learned that Sam was from a small town a couple of hours away and was studying engineering. He seemed confident, the kind of guy who made friends easily and could talk to anyone.

"You're in business, right?" Sam asked, glancing at my orientation packet on the desk.

"Yeah," I replied. "First year."

"Same here. Well, not business, obviously. But first year. It's crazy, right? Like, we're actually here."

I nodded, feeling the weight of those words. *We're actually here.*

Sam's easygoing nature made me feel more comfortable, and soon we were both unpacking, exchanging stories about our high schools, and laughing about the differences between our small towns and the massive university we now called home.

As the day went on, I began to feel the first flickers of excitement. The nervousness hadn't completely disappeared, but it was fading, slowly replaced by the possibility of something new. I still had no idea what the next days, weeks, or months would bring, but maybe that was okay.

As the sun began to set outside the window, casting a warm glow over the campus, I sat on my bed, feeling a little less like a stranger and a little more like I belonged. For the first time since I'd left home, I allowed myself to feel something other than fear.

Maybe, just maybe, this new world wasn't so scary after all.