With a resigned sigh, she made her way to their old university. The security there was more lenient. She left her suitcase at the office and walked onto the campus, feeling the weight of memories heavy around her.
Amber wandered to the same burger stand where she used to go with Calvin during their university days. Back then, when she was infatuated with him, she had dreamed of sharing even something as simple as a burger with him. She had packed a meal just for him, but Calvin never cared for it. The meal she'd lovingly prepared ended up being fed to the school's stray cats.
As the fragrant hamburger was placed before Amber, an overwhelming surge of emotions hit her all at once, like a sudden tide pulling her under. The emotions she had kept buried for so long—her hurt, her resentment, her unspoken grief—found their escape in that moment. They rushed out in an uncontrolled flood, flooding her heart and mind.
She gasped for air as if she were drowning, her chest tight and her breath coming in shallow, frantic bursts. The taste of bitterness spread in her mouth, making it impossible to swallow and her stomach twisted in discomfort. Every part of her felt weighted, like a heavy stone lodged in her chest.
It took several long moments for her to regain some semblance of composure. She wiped at her eyes, steadying herself before she reached for the burger again, but this time, it tasted empty. The flavor of the meal was lost beneath the bitterness gnawing at her heart. As she ate, her tears fell unbidden, each drop carrying years of unvoiced sorrow.
Once she finished, Amber bought a bag of sausages and made her way to the lawn to feed the campus cats. It was one of those simple, quiet routines she had once enjoyed—something that had always brought her peace, even when everything around her felt fractured.
The campus cats were well-fed and plump, thanks to the kind-hearted students who had taken it upon themselves to care for them. Beneath the girls' dormitory, a special winter shelter had even been set up, stocked with freeze-dried food and canned meals purchased by the students. The warmth of the campus community was a stark contrast to the cold void Amber felt inside.