I jerk awake to the sound of my mom's voice cutting through the hallway like a foghorn.

"Lily! It's 7:50! You'll miss your move-in slot at 9:30 if you don't get your ass up!"

Ugh. Could she be any louder?

I roll over, rubbing the sleep out of my eyes, and catch a glimpse of Dad's picture on my nightstand. His warm smile, frozen in time, stares back at me. It's like he's still here, watching over me, even though he's been gone for years. My chest tightens as I reach out and trace the edges of the frame with my fingertip.

"Your girl's going to university today, Dad," I whisper, my voice barely audible. "Wish me luck?"

For a second, I let myself imagine what today would be like if he were still around. If Mum didn't have to do everything on her own. If she wasn't always stretched too thin, barely managing to be both parents at once. Maybe she'd even be less... distracted. I let out a breath, giving the picture one last lingering glance before forcing myself out of bed.

My feet drag as I shuffle to the bathroom, catching a glimpse of my reflection in the mirror. Perfect. I look like a raccoon that lost a street fight, complete with drool marks on my cheek and those glorious little crusty bits in the corner of my eyes. 

Great start to moving day, Lily.

I splash water on my face, desperately trying to revive myself. But before I can even dry off, Mom's voice strikes again from the other side of the door, dripping with sarcasm.

"Oh good, you're up. I was beginning to think I'd be your human alarm clock forever!"

Rolling my eyes, I step into the shower, hoping for a moment of peace before the chaos of today kicks in. The hot water soothes my muscles, and for a moment, I let myself relax, letting the steam envelop me like a comforting hug. But, of course, peace never lasts long in this house.

"LILY GARCIA, IT'S EIGHT O'CLOCK!" Mum's voice booms, and suddenly, she bursts into the bathroom without so much as a knock.

"Mum! What the hell! Privacy!"

She doesn't even bat an eye. "Hurry up, or you'll be moving in at midnight."

I grumble something unintelligible as she disappears back down the hall. Welcome to my life. Mum, the superhero ER doctor who's saved countless lives but can't manage to knock on a door to save her own.

I step out of the shower and wrap myself in a towel, mentally gearing up for the day ahead. My wardrobe stares back at me like a daunting puzzle. What vibe am I going for? Fresh start? First impressions? Or "I barely have my life together but pretend I do"? After a few minutes of overthinking, I settle on my trusty high-waisted jeans and an oversized cream sweater. It's not groundbreaking, but at least I'll be comfortable.

As I tousle my hair into something resembling "effortlessly tousled," I hear the unmistakable clatter of dishes downstairs. The smell of pancakes wafts up to my room, a small beacon of normalcy.

Sliding into the kitchen, I'm greeted by a stack of steaming pancakes and a disapproving glance from Mum. 

"You are going to give me a heart attack one of these days," she mutters, though there's a small smile tugging at her lips.

"I'm fine, Mum. You worry too much."

A familiar voice interrupts, laughing from behind a coffee cup. "She's always late. Don't let her fool you."

Of course. Ava. My perfect, can-do-no-wrong sister. Four years older and an entire lifetime more put-together, she's been my second mom ever since Dad died. And don't get me wrong, I love her—except when she finishes my Flaming Hot Cheetos.

"Shouldn't you be at Ian's?" I tease, grabbing a pancake and spreading a generous dollop of Biscoff over it. "Or did he finally come to his senses and leave you?"

Ava grins, tossing a dish towel at me. "At least my sense of humor is better than your taste in boyfriends."

"Fuck off," I laugh, the sting of her jab softened by the truth in it.

Mum shoots us both a warning glance as she sips her coffee. "Lillianna, language."

After what feels like the world's quickest breakfast, Ava heads outside to load the car. I'm left alone with Mum, who gives me the once-over, clearly trying not to tear up.

"Did you pack everything?"

I take a moment to gather my thoughts before responding to Mum's question. "Yes, Mum," I reassure her with a smile. "I made sure to double-check everything last night before bed. Laptop, textbooks, toiletries—everything is packed and ready to go."

Mum nods, her expression easing into a smile of approval. "Good. I just want to make sure you're not forgetting anything important."

"Alright, I've loaded the last bits. Can't believe my baby is leaving us," Ava exclaims, pulling me into a tight hug that threatens to crush my ribs.

"Going to university, not war." I playfully roll my eyes and push out of the hug.

Mum shakes her head, trying to hide her smile. "Honestly, you two are impossible."

For as long as I can remember, it's been us three. Dad died when I was young,  but I always had my Mum and Ava there.

Mum used to tell me stories of her and him all the time, of how they met in med school, to their residency and instantly I was captivated. Stolen glances across the trauma room, late night coffee breaks that turned into deep conversations. I want that kind of love – a love that feels so destined, so perfectly entwined that not even the fates can unwind.

As I finish up my breakfast, Mum snatches the keys from the countertop. "Hurry it up, Lily, or we won't get parking," she says sternly, already on her way out of the house.

A wave of tension washes over me as I gather my things and follow her out to the car. I can't shake the feeling of unease that grips me.

I keep searching for that perfect, epic love—something that mirrors my parents'. But it's hard to find someone who sees the world the way I do, who understands the kind of love I'm looking for.

*****

 The drive to Harrington University is quiet, except for the occasional piece of advice from Mum about parking or student loans. My mind, though, is elsewhere. I can't stop thinking about what's waiting for me at Harrington—a fresh start. Or at least, I hope.

When we finally pull up to campus, it's everything I imagined and more. The sprawling lawns, the historic buildings, the hordes of students milling around like ants in search of their hill. And looming over it all, the bold sign declaring, "Harrington University."

"Here we are," Mum says, parking the car as if it's just another errand to run. But to me, it feels like I'm standing on the edge of a cliff, ready to jump into the unknown.

We unload the car, and as I'm lifting one of the heavier boxes, I manage to bump into someone—hard. The box slips from my grasp, crashing to the ground, and before I can apologize, a deep voice cuts in.

"Whoa, are you okay? Sorry, I didn't see you."

I look up, and of course, he's gorgeous. Tousled dark hair, piercing blue eyes, and wearing one of those "Here to Help" shirts that suddenly seems way too small for him. He squats to help me pick up the scattered contents of my box, and for a moment, I'm speechless

He's towering above me so he's 6'2, give or take, as I'm 5'6.

He offers, "Do you need any help?" as he squats down to assist. "No, thanks. I've got it," I reply, though I appreciate his offer.

"Finn, we need you over at the sign-up tent," someone yells.

He turns to acknowledge, "Coming," then turns back to help me stand up with the box.

"See you around?" He said, his lip tugging upwards into a flirtatious smirk, before turning away.

"Who's that?" Mum asks, curiosity evident in her voice.

"Oh, just someone offering to help," I brush off her question with a smile.

As we approach the registration desk, I notice a slim woman wearing thick-rimmed glasses and sporting a short bob with a striking silver streak. "Name, please," she asks frostily.

"Lily Garcia," I reply with a polite smile.

"We have you down as something else," She retorts "Full name, please" she responds rather sharply and rudely.

Isn't she precious.

"Lillianna Garcia," I reply, keeping my composure despite her tone.

"Room 203, Charleston Buildings," she says without looking up, sliding an envelope across the desk that I assume contains my room key.

 Mum tries to get a word in with the lady behind the desk, but I'm already walking away, pushing the trolley and heading toward my room. I can't be bothered to deal with that kind of unnecessary attitude right now.

Inside the Charleston Buildings, I glance at the board with the room numbers. Room 50... Room 100... then finally, Room 203 on the second floor.

The place is buzzing with students and parents, boxes stacked high, people weaving through the narrow halls like it's a maze. We make our way through the chaos until we reach my room. I push open the door to find two beds with fluffy pillows, matching desks tucked into the corners, and a soft rug that adds a touch of warmth to the otherwise sterile space.

Just as I'm about to say something, Mum's phone rings. Of course, it does.

"Hello, Ms. Garcia... no other doctors on call?" she asks, her tone switching to business as she sighs. She glances at me with that I'm sorry, but I have to go look.

"Okay, I'll be there in 20 minutes," she says before hanging up, her expression tinged with guilt.

"I've got to run, darling," Mum says, her concern showing through, even though we both knew this was coming.

"It's fine, Mum. Really. Go save lives." I give her a quick hug, trying to reassure her more than myself. "We'll catch up later."

She smiles, but I can see the apology in her eyes. "Okay, sweetheart. Just promise you'll take care of yourself. And call me if you need anything, alright?"

"Oh and Ava's the only one allowed to make me a grandma for now," she adds with a playful wink before closing the door.

I groan, my face flushing as she heads out the door with a laugh.

Once the door clicks shut, I let out a deep breath. It's just me now. Alone, in this new space. As I start unpacking my bags, my fingers brush against something buried under my clothes. I pull out a familiar frame, staring at the photograph of me and Adam.

Why did I even pack this? I must've been in autopilot mode.

I trace the edges of the photo, our faces frozen in time, so happy and carefree. The memories rush back, the ache in my chest growing with every second I hold it. My eyes blur as tears well up, and I clutch the picture to my chest, wrestling with emotions I've been trying to bury.

3 months ago

 "Adam, what do you mean it's over?" My voice cracks, raw with confusion. I reach for his arm, but he pulls away, his face unreadable.

"It's just not working," he says, like it's the simplest thing in the world. Like we didn't spend a year together.

"We've been through so much. How can you say that?" My tears mix with the rain that's pouring down around us, but I barely feel it. I barely feel anything except the sinking weight of his words.

"Lily, it's over," he replies, turning to leave me standing there, heartbroken and stunned.

Present Day

I blink, the memory crashing over me like a wave. The pain is still there, just as sharp as it was that night. We had our problems, sure, but I thought he was going to be it. My epic love. The one who made everything make sense. But no matter how hard I held on, it wasn't enough.

Before I can spiral any further, a knock at the door pulls me back to the present. I wipe at my eyes, toss the picture aside, and walk over to answer.

Standing there is the same guy from earlier. The one with the ridiculously good timing and an annoyingly laid-back grin. He's changed into a navy blue hoodie, the sleeves pushed up to his elbows, and dark jeans that somehow make him look effortlessly put-together.

With one hand tucked into the pockets of his jeans and the other holding a folder of papers, a laid-back smile plays on his lips, "It's you again" he says.

******************

Author's note

Hey guys, thanks for taking the time to read.

Comments, Likes and Votes, always welcome.

Happy Reading.

Love,

RennyTee xx