The afternoon sun poured through the dorm window, turning everything golden. I sat on my bed, pretending to read, though my mind kept wandering mostly to Mira.
The door creaked open softly. Mira stepped in, her hair still damp, carrying a faint smell of the ocean. She hesitated, then closed the door behind her.
"Hey," she said quietly.
"Hey," I replied, lowering my book.
For a moment, neither of us spoke. The air between us felt heavy, like something waiting to be said. Finally, Mira sighed and walked over to her side of the room.
"About the other day…" she began, voice soft. "I was… kind of rude."
I blinked. I hadn't expected that.
She turned slightly, her eyes meeting mine. "I shouldn't have snapped at you about the bracelet. It's just… I really value my privacy. And that bracelet is important to me."
"It's okay," I said. "I didn't mean to pry. I was just curious."
Her lips curved into the smallest smile. "Curious is good. But I'm not great with people touching my stuff. Or… knowing too much about me."
I nodded slowly. "You mean the late-night walks?"
Her smile faltered, just for a second. "You noticed that, huh?"
"It's hard not to," I admitted. "You're gone for hours."
She sighed again, brushing her hair back. "I love swimming. It's… peaceful. The ocean feels like home to me. But we're not allowed to leave the campus without permission, so I sneak out at night. It's the only time I feel… free."
There was a softness in her voice, a longing that made me forget to breathe for a second.
"Your secret's safe with me," I said finally.
Her eyes met mine blue and deep, like the sea itself. "Thank you, Lina."
For the first time, she smiled a real smile and it made me realize something I hadn't before.
Mira wasn't just beautiful. She was lonely.