After years of waiting, I am finally doing something for myself. I am going to study at the University of Lamburgh. It still feels like a dream—I can hardly believe I’m actually here. Lamburgh, a beautiful town nestled in the heart of the mountains… you are a dream come true for this silly soul.

  I really should stop talking to myself out loud. It's not exactly the best way to make new friends. But I guess years of loneliness can do that to a person—make them a little odd, a little distant. Ugh. Enough about me. I need to stop spiraling and focus on what’s ahead.

  For as long as I can remember, I have longed for a place to call my own—a home that offers peace, serenity, safety, and a sense of belonging in a world that never fails to remind me just how cruel it can be. And that’s why I am renting a three-bedroom apartment. After years of living in cramped, boxy spaces, I have started craving room to breathe—open corners, sunlight, space to stretch. I can’t wait to fill it with sun catchers and twinkling fairy lights. My own little dreamland. A quiet promise to myself that dreams can come true.

  “Are you Ms. Sinclair? Helllooooo?”

  An elderly woman stood on the hill, waving her hand like I wouldn’t be able to spot her from all the way down here.

  I blinked, not sure if I should wave back or pretend I didn’t see her. But she was already too enthusiastic to ignore, her wrinkled face breaking into a grin. I raised a hand, giving her an awkward wave. Maybe this town was full of people who had nothing better to do than wave at strangers. Or maybe she was just lonely. Either way, I couldn’t help but smile a little. It was kind of endearing, in a weird way.

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  I hesitated for a moment before walking up the hill toward the woman, who was now grinning like she’d just won a prize. As I got closer, she reached into the folds of her oversized cardigan and pulled out a small, worn key on a fraying keychain.

  “Here you go, dear,” she said, her voice sweet but firm. “I trust you’ll take good care of it.”

  I took the key, feeling its weight in my palm, then glanced around at the surroundings. The apartment wasn’t far now—just a short walk back down the hill and around the corner. It was on the third floor of an old brick building, with ivy climbing up the sides like something from a fairytale.

  When I finally opened the door to the apartment, I was hit by the faint smell of dust and fresh paint. The space was bright, even though the afternoon sun was starting to dip. Large windows lined one wall, casting warm, golden light across the living room. The floors were a soft honey color, and the white walls made the room feel open, airy.

  It was everything I had imagined—a blank canvas ready to be filled. There was a slight hum of the outside world drifting in through the windows, but inside, it felt almost like I was in a bubble. I moved toward the largest window, where the view struck me immediately: the mountains. Majestic and distant, their peaks dusted with snow even as the warmer months rolled in. The sight felt both grounding and freeing, like I was small in the grand scheme of things, but also part of something so much larger.

  The kitchen was just off to the side, with clean countertops and a simple sink, but it was the living room that captured my attention. A cozy, yet spacious area, perfect for reading or relaxing. The walls, bare for now, waited to be adorned with the sun catchers and fairy lights I had dreamed about. I could already picture it—fairy lights twinkling above, casting playful shadows across the room, while a large, plush rug would soften the space. I could feel the peace I had longed for settling in.

  As I took it all in, I thought about Mrs. Lily, my new landlord. She had mentioned her bakery in passing, but I hadn’t had a chance to check it out yet. I imagined her there, rolling dough and serving warm, fresh bread with a smile. Maybe tomorrow I would stop by, say hello, and see if she had anything that could help me settle in.