All I Need to Stay Sane {Lynn Gunn}

Dark Paradise

{Unedited}

Song: Tiny Raindrop by Balance and Composure (I'm gonna start doing these)

Providence. Rhode Island.

The small towns we drove through to get there took my breath away. The scenery was unbelievably beautiful. It felt like I was in a dream. I could only imagine what it would look like in the fall, all of the autumn colors and leaves..

I felt Lynn squeeze my hand gently, as if she was realizing that this was how it was going to be. The distance, the lack of touch. It just wouldn't be enough.

I watched as Dane marveled at everything, pointing to buildings excitedly while he turned around to see if I was happy as he was. My mom smiled at him before turning a corner, pulling up to the school. I caught my breath, taking in the large buildings and people roaming around with their belongings, dragging along suitcases as they tried to find their place.

I bit the inside of my cheek and looked over at Lynn, trying to remember every detail of her face, as if it would be the last time I ever saw her. She caught me staring at her and just put her arm around me, kissing my forehead.

I dreaded the moment that the car stopped. Cause when it did, everything would be so much more real. Saying goodbye, letting go. Learning to be on my own.

My mom pulled up to the front of the dormitories, sighing as she looked back at Lynn and I. "We're here," she claimed, as if no one had been paying attention the entire time. I took a deep breath before getting out of the car and walking to the trailer that was hooked on to the tail end of my car. I watched as Dane opened it and took out a few of my boxes, setting them down on the curb.

"Let's get to it," my mom said, clapping her hands as she did so. I watched as she picked up two boxes after looking at the map and locating my dorm. I watched as Dane did the same, heading in the opposite direction to the guys' dorms. I was left alone with Lynn who was searching for boxes with my name on them. I walked over and picked one up, following my mom into the building.

I took in a deep breath as I walked in through the double doors, Lynn close behind. I gazed around at the few people at the counter, trying to figure out the map. They glanced over at me and I gave them a weak smile before they turned away and went about their business. I bit my lip and walked into the elevator, Lynn following me.

She had let her hair down during the car ride and I admired the way it fell behind her shoulders, almost touching her waist. She stared straight ahead as the elevator moved, taking us to the fourth floor. When it opened, I was shocked by the amount of people bustling through the small hallway, calling out to their friends and dragging suitcases along with them.

"What number is your dorm?" Lynn wondered, turning around to face me. "Uhhh...412," I replied, nodding to the left side of the hallway. We wove around the crowd of people until we finally made it. I took out my key they had mailed to me and unlocked the door, letting my mom in who had been waiting the entire time.

The room was simple, pretty small with two beds on either side of the room. There was a window between them, along with a closet and a drawer for each person. There was a desk with a crappy wooden chair to go along with it.

The beds were set pretty high off the floor, and there was a note on the door saying that there was to be no personal furniture in the dorms. I sighed, looking over to my mom. "That's alright. I'll keep it for you for when you get your own place," she assured me, smiling. I smiled back and set my box in front of my bed, as there was someone else who had been in here. Probably going to get more stuff. I watched as Lynn and my mom did the same. When I turned around, I nearly ran into someone, tripping over myself.