> > >

The sound of a phone ringing quickly broke the silence that followed Tiana’s mention of the title of her book. It was Professor Edward’s phone.

“I can’t wait to see what you have prepared. Whenever you’re ready, just let me know,” he said as he brought the phone out of his pocket. “I need to take this call.”

Relief washed over Tiana’s face. “Thank you, sir. I will send it to your email.”

Edward nodded as he picked up the call and walked toward the door. Tiana gathered her things and followed closely behind.

“What happened?” Nora asked, curious about why Tiana had taken so long.

“I was just asking the professor about something. Sorry for keeping you waiting.” Tiana smiled. “So, what next?”

“I’m thinking of visiting the library for the assignment we were given,” Nora replied as they both started walking.

“That’s right. Let’s go.” With that, they continued talking as they headed to the library.

***

The evening light filtered through the thin curtains, casting a soft glow across the room. The apartment was small, but comfortable for someone living alone. A sofa sat against one wall, draped with a knitted throw pillow. Books were stacked in uneven piles on the floor, some marked with slips of paper, others left open as if she meant to return to them.

A tiny dining table doubled as a workspace, scattered with pens, papers, a half-closed laptop, and a half-full mug of coffee that had long since gone cold. From the kitchenette came the faint scent of instant coffee and freshly baked banana bread.

Tiana walked toward the table with a half-eaten slice of banana bread and sat down. She took another bite, set the rest on a plate, and reached for the mug. After a sip, she winced, setting the mug down as the bitter taste lingered.

“I hate cold coffee,” she whispered, blinking in dissatisfaction. After a few seconds, she stretched her hands. “Alright… what do we have here?” She opened the laptop and started scrolling.

She opened the folder titled The First Draft, her fingers lingering on the mouse as she scrolled through the words she had poured onto the page. Carefully, she selected the document and attached it to an email addressed to edwardkeanehbu@gmail.com, her heart fluttering slightly at the thought of him reading it.

Tiana leaned back in her chair, staring at the laptop screen as a mix of relief and nerves washed over her. She reached for the mug again, but the cold coffee made her pause, and she set it down with a soft, disappointed sigh.

***

Professor Edward sat upright in his study that night, carefully going through unread messages on his laptop. The room was still and silent, just as he liked it. On the table, books, papers, a pen holder, and a cup of water were neatly arranged.

His glasses rested firmly on his nose as he read the messages one by one. After a few minutes, he opened the email Tiana had sent earlier. He clicked on the attached file and began to read.

---

Excerpt from The First Draft:

The bus rumbled down the road, and through the window, she caught her first glimpse of Oldbrook, a town that seemed to have been waiting for her all along. She pressed her forehead to the cool glass, studying the town that would soon be her home. She had never been to a place so small or so quiet, yet Oldbrook already seemed full of life and stories.

As the bus approached the station, it dawned on her that she didn’t know anyone here, which made her both nervous and excited.

When it finally came to a stop, those who had reached their destination hurried down — Christy Hansen included. She stepped off the bus and looked around the quiet town. The streets were nearly empty. She adjusted the strap of her bag and took a deep breath, trying to steady the flutter of nerves in her stomach. It was her first time in this town, and everything felt unfamiliar, yet she couldn’t wait to see what it had in store for her.

Christy Hansen was twenty-five. After the death of her parents, she had struggled to survive as the only child, abandoned by relatives. She wanted a new start. A new place. Somewhere small. Somewhere quiet. Somewhere no one knew her. That was why she had chosen Oldbrook — a place perfect for anyone who wanted peace and solitude.

With her luggage in one hand and a small piece of paper in the other, she took a deep breath and started walking. Her eyes wandered up and down the streets as she searched for her new home.

After a few minutes of walking, Christy Hansen finally reached her destination. It was a small apartment tucked away on a quiet street. The air outside was cool, and it seemed almost as if the town was welcoming her.

“Ah, you’re here already,” a voice called from behind.

Christy turned to see a young man approaching. He was the one who had arranged the apartment for her, and they had been in touch even before her journey began.

“Good to see you, Andrew,” she said, setting down her luggage.

“Good to see you too, Christy. Welcome to Oldbrook,” he replied, and they hugged briefly.

“Hope the journey wasn’t too stressful?” he asked as they pulled apart.

“Fortunately, it wasn’t. I’m just glad to finally be here,” she said.

“That’s good to hear." He gave a warm smile. "Alright, let’s go in. I’ll show you the place.” He helped her with the luggage as they walked toward the front door.

Andrew took her on a tour of the apartment, showing her things she should know and how to set up certain items. She followed closely, listening attentively and asking questions whenever she was unsure about something.

“Trust me. You’re going to love it here. Everyone in Oldbrook is like family. In a few days, you’ll adapt to the environment,” Andrew assured her.

“I just hope so. I’m loving it already. The scenery, the atmosphere, everything is so calm. But I'm still a little bit nervous,” Christy said.

“Exactly. Don’t be nervous. It’s normal to feel that way since it’s your first time, but don’t worry. Everything will fall into place eventually.” He smiled. “And don’t hesitate to let me know if you ever need anything.”

“Thank you so much, Andrew. I really appreciate your help,” she replied.

“You’re welcome.”

After Andrew left, Christy set her luggage down and looked around the small apartment. It wasn’t much, but it was hers. For the first time in a long while, she felt a spark of hope — maybe Oldbrook was exactly the fresh start she had been searching for.

Sitting by the window, she stared out at the quiet streets of Oldbrook. A lifetime of struggles had brought her here, and she promised herself she would make this new place a home, no matter what it took.

She took a deep breath, let it out slowly, and whispered, “This... is a new beginning.”