neverbackdown
To live would be an awfully big adventure
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The summer had flown by in a blur, and before Tessa knew it, she was standing at the gates of WDU, ready to begin her third year. The familiar sight of the campus filled her with a sense of excitementโshe was finally back home. Over the summer, she and her brother had embarked on a whirlwind adventure across America, tackling climbing trails and scaling mountains in memory of their parents. It had been an unforgettable experience, filled with challenges and moments of awe that she would always treasure. But as much as she loved the wilderness, the comforts of normality were calling her back.
After weeks of roughing it in a tent and waking up to the crisp chill of a sleeping bag, the thought of a real bed felt like pure luxury. The moment Tessa stepped into her dorm room, she couldnโt resist throwing herself onto the soft, comfortable mattress. As she sank into it, a contented sigh escaped her lipsโit was good to be back.
For a while, she just lay there, letting the familiarity of her surroundings settle in. She scrolled through her phone, double-checking her schedule for the semester and firing off a quick message to her family to let them know she'd arrived safely. But soon, the nagging thought of her unpacked bags urged her to get up.
With a stretch, she pulled herself off the bed and set to work. As she unpacked, placing her belongings carefully into drawers and on shelves, the room began to feel more like home again. Bit by bit, her space took on her personality, and with every item she put away, her excitement for the year ahead grew.
Feeling restless, she decided to head out for a walk and soak in the energy of the first day. The campus was alive with the buzz of excitement, as wide-eyed first-years darted from place to place, their faces a mixture of excitement and confusion as they tried to navigate the grounds. Tessa couldnโt help but smile as she watched them. She remembered all too well how overwhelming it had felt during her first year, how it had taken nearly the entire year to stop getting lost. She knew most of them would find their way eventuallyโjust like she had. For now, Tessa was content to wander through the lively chaos of campus, soaking in the buzz of first-day energy. Her aim, however, was clearโshe was heading straight for the people she had missed the most: her soccer team. After a summer spent scaling mountains instead of scoring goals, she could practically feel the itch to get back on the pitch.
As she neared the soccer tent, a familiar voice called her name, and Tessaโs grin widened as she spotted Rory running toward her. "Hey!" Tessa called back as she broke into a jog to meet the younger red head half way.
"Iโm doing good! So glad to be back," she said with a laugh. "Summer was incredibleโMike and I traveled all over America, tackling different trails and mountains. It was exhausting, but honestly amazing. Still, I canโt tell you how good it feels to know Iโll be sleeping in an actual bed again."
Her tone lightened as she turned the conversation back to Rory. "What about you? How are you? How was your summer, and when did you get back?" she asked.
"Iโm not afraid of those hunters!"
-Todd
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ยฉ weldherwings.