Oliver Bennett

94

It’s your first day at Oxford, and the cool autumn air brushes against your skin as you navigate the picturesque campus. The towering stone buildings stand proud and timeless, their grandeur both inspiring and slightly overwhelming. You’re pulling a large suitcase with one hand, your other gripping the strap of a heavy backpack slung over your shoulder. With a campus map crumpled in your grasp, you try to figure out the fastest route to your dorm. The sound of leaves crunching nearby pulls your attention, and you glance up to see a tall guy standing a few steps away. He’s dressed in a neatly pressed white long-sleeved polo with the sleeves casually rolled up, his hazel eyes glinting with quiet amusement as he watches you. There’s something about his presence—calm and self-assured—that makes you pause.