𝐅𝐀𝐖𝐍 • ᵉ ʲᵃᵉᵍᵉʳ

the finale consumes all ʸᵒᵘʳˢ ᵗʳᵘˡʸ, ᵉⁿᵈ

𝚜𝚊𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚍𝚊𝚢, 𝚖𝚊𝚢 𝟷𝟿𝚝𝚑

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐎𝐅𝐓 𝐇𝐔𝐌 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐅𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐄𝐌𝐏𝐓𝐘 𝐒𝐏𝐀𝐂𝐄 𝐀𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃 𝐌𝐄 as I sit cross-legged on the floor of my dorm, a space that no longer feels like mine. Every single scrap of my life here is packed up, crammed into boxes that now sit stacked in the back of my car, ready to be driven back home. The walls are bare, save for the few remnants of tape marks left behind from posters that once hung proudly. The leopard-print rug is rolled up in a corner, and even the dresser, covered in makeup stains and energy drink cans, is now stripped of its clutter, waiting to be carted away. The space feels foreign to me now, like I don't even recognize it anymore.

I run my fingers along the smooth wood of the floor, my mind drifting back to the countless memories I've made here. It feels surreal to think about how much has happened in just nine months. I've laughed and cried in this room. I've argued with friends, had heart-to-heart talks, celebrated small victories, and even learned to let go of things I once thought I couldn't live without. This place has been my little bubble, a space where I was allowed to grow and change without anyone watching too closely. And now, it's all coming to an end.

The memories are flooding in, and I can barely keep them in. The parties I attended, the moments of careless joy when I thought nothing could go wrong. The night with Eren—oh god, that night—and the random kiss with a stranger that felt like it could've been a movie scene. How could I ever forget glitter bombing Historia's car with Eren? I chuckle softly to myself, even now finding it absurd. And the best part? Historia never found out who the culprit was. It was like our secret little rebellion, a ridiculous but unforgettable moment of mischief that somehow felt entirely right.

But now, it's time to leave. Time to let go of this chapter and step into whatever comes next. I glance down at my phone, noticing the time. The graduation ceremony for the seniors is starting soon, just a few minutes away at the football field. I haven't been able to process it all yet, but I'm about to watch a whole new group of people walk across that stage and step into the world. I can't help but wonder if that's what I'll be doing that in the coming years—if I'll be the one crossing that stage, looking out at a crowd of strangers who might not even remember me.

I push myself off the floor, standing up slowly. The light that's creeping in through the blinds is soft and warm, as if it's trying to coax me into a new beginning. It's strange how this room, which once felt so full of life, now feels like a shell. I pull on a loose jacket, the weight of it feeling different now. It's like I'm holding onto a piece of myself that doesn't really fit anymore, but I'm not ready to let go of it.

It was never perfect, but it was mine. And I think that's the most important thing I'll carry with me—this was where I started. This was where I grew.

The campus feels quieter than usual, as if the world itself is holding its breath, waiting for everything to change. The parking lot is full of cars, some of them already loaded up with bags and boxes, just like mine.

I take one last deep breath, and for a second, I think about Eren. I wonder if he's thinking the same thing, if he's feeling the weight of this moment too. In just a hours, everything will be different. But for now, I'm ready for whatever comes next. I've got the memories. I've got the lessons. And I've got the people who made all of this possible.

The distant sound of the graduation ceremony starting reaches my ears, a reminder that no matter how much I've changed, the world keeps moving forward. And for the first time in a while, I think I'm ready to take that step with it.