Tiara's pov
I watched Mary leave, her footsteps fading down the hallway as she disappeared. Her words echoed in my mind: "Prepare for college." That one phrase sent my heart into a spiral of anxiety. For a moment, the room felt too quiet, too still, as if even the walls were absorbing my nervous energy. Tomorrow was a big day. I wanted to feel excited, to start fresh in this new life, but the tightness in my chest kept squeezing my hopes.
Sighing, I sank back onto the sofa, rubbing my temples as if that would somehow soothe my restless thoughts. The feeling was familiar—like a dark cloud, hovering on the edge of excitement and dread. This wasn't just about attending college. It was about stepping into a world I barely knew, dealing with people who might judge me, and knowing I was there because someone thought I was just "good enough to help his son." And this son, I imagined, might be the kind of rich kid who would never take a person like me seriously.
