Chapter 1: Opening Image
Nyah stepped into the hotel room, her backpack heavy with the weight of textbooks and lecture notes. She was still replaying the day's biochemistry lecture in her mind, her fingers absently tapping against the straps of her backpack as she walked. The room was quiet, the only sound the soft click of her sneakers against the tile floor. She looked around, taking in the room for the first time since they had arrived. It was clean and simple, with two queen-sized beds, a flat-screen TV mounted on the wall, and a small table with two chairs pushed against the window.
The bathroom door was slightly ajar, revealing a steamed-up mirror and a shower curtain billowing gently with the air from the heating vent. The room was a stark contrast to the bustling city outside, a sterile oasis in the midst of chaos.
Nyah let out a sigh, her eyes scanning the room for any signs of life. She had been hoping to find her roommate, Micah, here so they could discuss their plans for the conference they were both attending. She had only met Micah briefly the night before, but she had already formed a few opinions about him.
He was laid-back, that much was clear from the way he had casually thrown his duffel bag onto his bed and immediately started searching through his phone for nearby pizza places. He had a quick smile and an easy laugh, and he didn't seem to take anything too seriously. Nyah, on the other hand, was all about the serious business of academics and career goals. She had her life mapped out, and she wasn't about to let anyone or anything derail her plans.
She dropped her backpack onto the bed closest to the door, letting the straps slip off her shoulders with a sigh of relief.