Chapter 15 As dusk settled over the sky, the flight attendants began handing out dinner trays. Aldrich grabbed a meal for Emma- line and snagged an extra serving of fruit. "Airplane food's never quite enough," he said with a grin, nodding toward his backpack. "If you're still hungry, I've got some bread in here." "Thanks, but I think I'm good," Emmaline replied, taking the tray. The neatly packaged meal felt warmer than usual. Over dinner, they swapped stories about their hometowns and dreams for the future. Emmaline shared her passion for clinical research, while Aldrich spoke of his ambition to make breakthroughs in pharmacology. Though their paths di- verged, their shared fervor for medicine wove an easy connection between them. The flight passed faster than Emmaline expected. Soon, the cabin speaker crackled, announcing their descent. Through the window, Emmaline could already see the glowing web of city lights below, her heart swelling with antic- ipation. When the plane landed, Aldrich helped her pull down her suitcase from the overhead compartment. "Don't worry," he said, flashing a reassuring smile. "Just stick with me. I've got the bus schedule to campus all figured out." At the airport, they followed signs to the shuttle stop. Emmaline felt a touch out of place among the bustling crowd of foreign faces, but with Aldrich as her guide, her nerves settled. When the bus pulled up, he hoisted her luggage aboard and found them window seats. "Once we get to campus, we'll hit the check-in desk first," he said. "They'll point us to the dorms." He pulled out his phone, showing her a map. "Your dorm's in Building 1, super close to the lecture halls. I'm in Build- ing 2. If you ever need anything, I'm just a shout away." Emmaline jotted down notes, grateful for his thoughtfulness. The bus hummed to life, the night scenery slipping by outside. Emmaline leaned back, a rare calm washing over her. About an hour later, they arrived at the campus gates. Lugging their bags, they stepped into the quiet grounds and fol- lowed signs to the check-in desk. "They should still be open," Aldrich said, checking his map. "Let's hurry before they close for the night." Inside, a few staff members were still on duty. They greeted the two newcomers warmly, helping them sort through their paperwork. Aldrich handed over Emmaline's admission letter and ID for her, then reminded her to fill out the dorm registration form. By the time everything was done, it was almost ten o'clock. "Let me walk you to your dorm," Aldrich offered, grabbing her bag. "It's late, and you shouldn't go alone." Emmaline trailed behind him, watching his steady stride, her heart brimming with gratitude. "You've been a lifesaver today," she said. "I'd have been a total mess without you." "No big deal," Aldrich said, glancing back with a warm smile. "We're in this together now. Oh, and don't forget-new student orientation is at nine tomorrow morning in front of the lecture hall. Don't be late." "I'll be there," Emmaline said with a nod. Aldrich carried her suitcase all the way to the dorm entrance, pointed out where the dorm manager's office was, and only left once he was sure she'd be fine. As his figure vanished down the corridor, Emmaline pushed open her dorm room door. The place was tidy and bright, the moonlight spilling gently through the window. A quiet sense of peace settled over her. She stepped to the window, 0.0 % 10:02 Chapter 15 288 YOUchers gazing at the starry sky, a smile tugging at her lips. All the regrets of her past life were now behind her. This time, she would complete her studies, chase her dreams, and live a life that was truly her own. Her new journey had just begun. 10:02 93.3 %