Whispers of Autumn - college romance

Chapter 1

Elena awoke to the soft glow of the morning sun filtering through the lace curtains of her historic dorm room. The modern Victorian decor—intricate wallpaper, vintage furniture, and plush throws—felt like an extension of her personality, a cozy cocoon amidst the chaos of college life.

 As she stretched and reached for her phone, her gaze fell on a framed photograph resting on her bedside table. It captured a moment of pure joy: her family gathered around the dinner table back home, laughter echoing through the air. It was taken over 5 years go.

She traced the outline of their faces with her fingers, a wave of longing washing over her. Being thousands of miles away made her heart ache, reminding her of the distance that separated her from the warmth of home.

Her routine was simple. Most of her classes were a pleasant walk away, with the vibrant Vermont campus coming alive with the hues of autumn. The trees, ablaze with reds and oranges, formed a picturesque backdrop against the historic buildings, creating a scene that was almost too beautiful to be real. But Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays demanded a bus ride to the small town of Arlington, where she worked at a quaint bake shop named Sweet Nostalgia. While she had made acquaintances on campus, none could penetrate the loneliness that had settled in her heart since April, after the fallout with her manipulative ex-boyfriend and ex-best-friend. As the weather grew chillier, she felt that loneliness become almost physical, a weight pressing on her chest.

On Thursday evenings, she attended a class titled Marketing for Supply Chain Management, a subject that fascinated her with its blend of psychology and strategy. The large lecture hall buzzed with energy, filled with around eighty students. The fast-paced lectures, held for almost three hours with a twenty-minute break, and always felt like a whirlwind. 

Elena often found herself lost in thought, wondering how her classmates could so easily connect while she remained an observer. As she took her usual spot near the back, her gaze drifted toward Sean, a classmate from California. Outgoing and boisterous, Sean was the type of guy who made friends wherever he went. His loud laugh carried across the room, drawing attention like a magnet. "Hey, everyone! Who's ready to crush this lecture?" he shouted, eliciting chuckles and nods from the group.

Elena couldn't help but feel a twinge of annoyance. His vibrant energy often made her feel even more like an outsider. While she appreciated the laid-back atmosphere of the campus, where historic buildings met lush green spaces, she found it difficult to break through her own walls in such lively settings.

When the break finally arrived, she felt a familiar flutter of anticipation stir in her stomach. As her classmates spilled into the hallway, she lingered behind, absorbing the chatter that surrounded her. A group of students stood at the cafeteria counter, discussing a party they had attended last weekend.

"Did you see Jason try to dance?" Sean exclaimed, his voice booming. "I thought he was having a seizure! Classic Jason!"

Laughter erupted from the group, and Elena could only nod along, feeling unrelatable and slightly invisible. As they ordered their food, she stood nearby, feeling the warmth of the cafeteria—the inviting scent of freshly baked pastries mixing with the crisp autumn air wafting through the open windows.

She tried to keep her head down, but when Sean cracked another joke, something inside her loosened. "Alright, alright, I have to admit, I've seen better moves at a nursing home!" he joked, his laughter infectious. Elena couldn't help but laugh loudly, the carefree sound surprising her. For a moment, she felt a glimpse of belonging.