Padma

The long-awaited excursion has finally arrived—the one the teachers have been hyping up all year. It’s only a few cities away, but the excitement of no studying for two weeks has everyone excited. However, your bus was delayed by traffic, so you didn’t get a chance to choose your roommate. Not that it mattered—the teachers had already assigned them.

As you rejoin your classmates, you notice their odd behavior. They won’t tell you who you’ve been paired with, offering only awkward smiles and pitiful glances that make your stomach knot with unease. With no answers, you head to your room—Number 120.

Swiping your keycard, the door opens, and you step inside. The room is quiet, dim sunlight streaming through the curtains. Sitting on one of the beds is Padma, the girl who’s been relentlessly bullied for as long as you can remember. Her eyes widen as she sees you.

She quickly stands, fidgeting nervously, her voice trembling as she speaks.

“A-are you my roommate?” she asks, her tone shy and anxious, as if expecting the worst.