Amelia froze.
"You're going back to India?" she asked slowly, her voice tight with disbelief.
I nodded. "My parents asked me to come. Apparently, there's something they need to tell me. They wouldn't say what. My dad called earlier and said it had to be discussed in person."
Amelia crossed the room and sat beside me, her expression unreadable. "You can't just leave. We're in the middle of the semester."
"I've already submitted a leave application—two weeks," I said, avoiding her eyes.
She didn't respond immediately. Her silence felt heavy.
"I'll be back before you know it," I added, trying to soften the news. "It's not permanent."
"But what am I supposed to do while you're gone?" she asked in a low voice. "This room is depressing without you."
I smiled slightly. "Try talking to other people? You might make a few new friends without me monopolizing your time."
"I don't want new friends," she muttered. "You're better than everyone else."
"Aww," I said, nudging her with my shoulder. "Flattery won't stop me from leaving."
She groaned dramatically, then watched as I opened my laptop to book my ticket. The next available flight left the following evening at 5:00 p.m.
I booked it.
---
I finished packing around midnight. Every item folded neatly, every document placed with precision. Still, I couldn't sleep. My thoughts were too loud.
So, I reached for my phone.
Ethan was online—of course. Probably doom-scrolling memes or sending cursed stickers in group chats. I stared at his name for a moment before typing.
Me: Hey.
His reply was instant.
Ethan: YOOO. You actually texted me. I feel blessed.
Me: It's not that big of a deal.
Ethan: You say that, but it is.
Typical Ethan.
Me: By the way—
Ethan: What?
Me: I'm flying back to India tomorrow.
The typing bubbles appeared, disappeared, then came back.
Ethan: WAIT. What?
Me: Yeah. Family emergency. I'll be gone for two weeks.
Ethan: What about class? Are you okay traveling alone? When do you leave?
Me: I took two weeks off. I'm fine. Flight's at 5 p.m. tomorrow. Well, today, technically.
Ethan: So you're really just dipping mid-semester, huh?
I sent an ellipsis.
Ethan: Fair. Safe flight, Alexis.
Just then, something clattered behind me. I jumped—heart sprinting—only to see Amelia, still half-asleep, knocking over a water bottle.
"You okay?" I asked.
"Mmmhm," she mumbled, flopping back onto the bed.
I put my phone down and tried to quiet my thoughts, but my mind stayed wired. Between the cryptic phone call, the flight, and Amelia's reaction, my head was spinning.
---
The next morning, I stepped outside for a walk to clear my head. As usual, Ethan appeared beside me like some sort of overly talkative shadow.
"You know," I said, glancing at him, "you never announce your presence. You just… start walking next to me."
"I don't want to interrupt your thoughts," he replied easily. "You always look like you're somewhere else. I figure I'll just wait until you come back to earth and notice me."
I blinked. "That's oddly poetic."
He shrugged. "So… today's the day?"
"Yep. Leaving in a few hours."
"When are you coming back?"
"I already told you."
"Humor me."
"Two weeks," I repeated, even though I wasn't entirely sure myself. Plans have a way of changing.
He nodded, hands in his pockets, staring ahead. "What are you even going to do for two weeks in the middle of the semester?"
"India is my home, you know. It's not like I'm going on vacation. My parents want to talk. That's all I know."
We walked in silence for a while. It wasn't uncomfortable, just... suspended. Like both of us knew there were things left unsaid.
Eventually, my phone rang again—Amelia.
"Come back to the dorm immediately," she said, sounding unusually urgent.
I said goodbye to Ethan and rushed back, worried she'd started a fire or lost her laptop or something equally chaotic.
Instead, I opened the door to find her surrounded by snacks. Bags upon bags—chips, candy, cookies, sodas.
"What is this?" I asked.
"Our farewell party," she said brightly. "You're leaving for two weeks. We need to emotionally carbo-load."
"You're insane."
"We're insane," she corrected, patting the space next to her. "Sit down."
"You know this much junk food is unhealthy, right?"
"It's just for today. We'll go to the gym tomorrow. Probably. Maybe."
I sighed and gave in.
We spent the afternoon watching The Vampire Diaries for the millionth time, quoting lines we'd memorized and roasting every bad decision Damon Salvatore ever made. It was exactly the kind of send-off I didn't know I needed.
---
By 4 p.m., I was at the airport, luggage in hand, boarding pass ready. The flight would be long and mostly silent—fourteen hours of recycled air, movie options I wouldn't watch, and my own overthinking.
I took the window seat, pulled out my phone, and opened a new note.
Maybe when I land, everything will make sense. Or maybe this is just the beginning of more questions.
I closed my eyes and leaned against the window.
I didn't know what was waiting for me on the other side of the world. But something was coming. I could feel it.