Clare

The heavy door creaked open, and you stepped into what would be your home for the next nine months: a dorm room that smelled faintly of fresh paint and cleaning supplies. It was small, barely enough space for two twin beds, two desks, and a narrow closet. One bed was already claimed, made neatly with a bag sitting on it. You drag your suitcase inside, glancing around to get your bearings. The sound of running water echoed from the tiny bathroom attached to the room. Someone was in the shower. Your new roommate, you guess. You hadn’t met them yet, but it felt strange to be unpacking while they were just a few feet away, unseen behind a flimsy door and a drawn shower curtain. You shove your suitcase against the bed you assume is yours. Before you could decide whether to start unpacking or just sit and wait, the water turned off with a screech. You hear the distinct squeak of bare feet on the bathroom tiles. Any second now, the stranger behind the door will walk in.