Chasing Shadows

Maya stood at the threshold of the university campus, her heart pounding with an uneasy mix of excitement and fear. The sprawling stone buildings stretched before her, grand and intimidating in their historical elegance. She couldn’t help but feel like an impostor, as if someone would pull her aside any moment and ask her to leave. This place—the place she had dreamed of for years—seemed too vast, too intimidating, and far beyond anything she ever thought she could belong to. Her phone buzzed in her pocket, pulling her from her spiraling thoughts. She fished it out quickly, already knowing who it was, before she even glanced at the screen. Mom: Good luck today, sweetie! Don’t forget to take care of yourself! Call me when you get a chance. Love you! Maya smiled faintly and typed a quick reply: Thanks, Mom. I’ll call soon. Love you too. A soft gust of wind ruffled her brown hair, and Maya took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves. She could do that. She had to do that. After years of applying to top-tier schools, she had finally gotten in. But now, staring at the ivy-covered walls, she wondered if she was ready for what came next. She had spent so much time convincing herself that her place here was earned—that she deserved to be among the best—that she sometimes forgot to believe in herself. She adjusted the strap of her backpack, squared her shoulders, and began walking toward the large lecture hall where her first class was being held. The campus was alive with students, some huddled in groups, others alone, all seemingly at ease in the chaotic rush of the first day of the semester. Maya’s gaze dropped to the ground as she moved through the crowd, the sounds of laughter and chatter fading into the background. She had always been the quiet one, the bookworm with a head full of ideas, but a mouth too shy to speak them. At school, she was known for her achievements, but not for her personality. No one had ever expected her to be the center of attention—she had always been content to watch from the sidelines. But now, standing in the midst of a sea of confident, outgoing strangers, Maya felt invisible. And for a moment, she wished she could just blend into the background, disappear entirely. She found the lecture hall and entered, making her way to an empty seat in the middle row. The classroom buzzed with activity as students filed in, the chatter of excited voices mixing with the sound of backpacks being shuffled and notebooks being opened. Maya set her things down and pulled out her notebook, her fingers shaking slightly as she adjusted the pages. The door at the front of the room creaked open, and a tall figure entered, drawing the attention of nearly everyone in the room. Maya looked up instinctively, her eyes locking on the figure of a guy who seemed almost... effortless in his confidence. He was wearing a perfectly fitted navy blue shirt, dark jeans, and a smile that was so easy, it looked like he had worn it every day of his life. His tousled hair was a bit longer than most, giving him a slightly messy yet somehow polished look. He walked to the front of the room with a casual grace, his eyes scanning the crowd of students before settling on the empty seat beside Maya. He raised an eyebrow, as if surprised to see someone sitting there, then flashed her a quick smile before taking the seat next to hers without hesitation. Maya blinked, feeling a sudden flush creep up her neck. She immediately looked back down at her notebook, trying to calm her racing heart. What was he doing sitting next to her? She had always been the invisible one—the girl who was rarely noticed unless she had an answer to a question no one else could answer. And here was this guy, effortlessly confident and undeniably attractive, sitting beside her like it was the most natural thing in the world. “Hey,” he said, his voice warm and easy, like he’d known her for years. Maya turned her head slightly, unsure how to respond. She wasn’t used to being spoken to by someone like him—someone who had clearly been the center of attention his entire life. “Hi,” she replied softly, her voice barely audible. He chuckled lightly, a sound that seemed to radiate warmth and ease. “You’re Maya, right?” Her head snapped up in surprise. “How do you—?” “Everyone knows who you are,” he interrupted with a smile, his tone teasing, “You’re the girl who got accepted here, like, five seconds after she submitted her application. Everyone was talking about it.” Maya blinked again, feeling her stomach do a nervous flip. She had not expected to be recognized so quickly—especially not by someone like him. She had always kept a low profile, never drawing too much attention to herself. It wasn’t like she wanted to be known. She wasn’t the type to seek the spotlight. But he wasn’t done. “I’m Liam, by the way,” he said, offering her his hand with a smile that seemed both genuine and disarming. “Maya,” she said, shaking his hand without thinking. Liam’s grip was firm but friendly, and for a moment, Maya forgot to feel out of place. There was something in his presence—an effortless confidence, a kind of magnetism—that made her feel like she could breathe a little easier. She glanced down at his hand again, noticing the way the light caught the small silver ring he wore on his finger. A reminder that some people were simply destined to belong, while others, like her, were still trying to figure out where they fit in. “Are you nervous?” Liam asked, leaning slightly toward her. Maya felt a twinge of embarrassment, unsure how to answer the question. Was it that obvious? “I guess,” she said finally, unable to lie. Liam smiled again, this time more sympathetically. “Don’t worry. You’ll be fine. We all start somewhere.” Maya nodded, though a part of her still felt unsure. But as the class began, with Liam sitting beside her, she found it a little easier to focus. For the first time in a long while, someone had acknowledged her without judging, and for a brief moment, she wondered what it would be like to step into the light instead of always being in the shadows. But maybe that was just wishful thinking. After all, the world wasn’t made for quiet girls like her. And Liam? He was the kind of person who thrived in the spotlight. Still, a small part of her couldn’t help but wonder… could she ever be more than just a shadow?