The semester ends

The semester ended, and the campus emptied almost overnight.

Most students headed home for winter break, but I wasn’t one of them. Flying home was just too expensive, and I couldn’t justify spending that much money for a short visit.

When I told Sarah, she was obviously disappointed.

“So you’re really staying?”

“Yeah. I wish I could come home, but the flight is just too expensive.”

She was quiet for a moment.

“I understand. I’m still bummed.”

“I know. I’m bummed too.”

We talked for a while longer, and eventually she smiled.

“Promise you’ll call me?”

“Of course.”

“I love you.”

“Love you too.”

After we hung up, I looked around the dorm.

It was almost completely empty.

Doug was gone. Jeff was gone. Chase was gone.

For the first time since moving in, I had the entire place practically to myself.

It was strange.

The semester had felt so busy, and now everything was quiet.

I didn’t have classes for a few weeks, but I also didn’t have much money to spend. I needed to make it through the rest of the school year, and I was starting to think about getting a job during break.

Something part-time.

Enough to make some extra money and give me a little cushion for the spring.

I opened my laptop and started looking at possibilities.

I wasn’t sure what I wanted yet.

For now, I had an empty dorm, a few weeks of freedom, and plenty of time to figure it out.

Winter break was going to be different from what I’d imagined.

But maybe that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.