This story is in response to the Muse on Monday prompt from January 1, 2024.

Two Beginnings

The dorm room smelled like failure. Ryan put his suitcases down and sat on the unmade bed furthest from the door. The white cinder block walls had the look of an institution, or a prison.

He should feel lucky that this second-rate university had agreed to take him after the disaster at his last school. It had taken heartfelt explanation letters from him and his parents and promises to do better—plus a total lack of standards here—to get him accepted. Still, all he felt now was depressed.

He unpacked his suitcases and put away his clothes. There was a stain on the corner of the thin mattress, hopefully coffee. He didn’t want to think about it. He made the bed and sat on it, scrolling through his social media feeds on his phone. Now all that was left was to meet his roommate. With how the day was going, he was probably going to be terrible.

The door opened and a tall boy with messy hair walked in, pulling a battered suitcase. He looked like he had just stepped out of a thrift store. Ryan’s heart sank.

*         *         *

Beau waved to his aunt as she drove away, leaving him standing in front of the dormitory. The place was huge and had actual stone pillars framing the door, just like university in a movie. He dragged the suitcase up the steps, saying hi to everyone else walking back and forth carrying boxes and suitcases as they moved in.

He couldn’t believe he was actually here: after years of saving and applying to colleges, he had made it. He was the first person in his family to even apply to college, let alone get a degree, but he wasn’t going to let them down.

“Hi, I’m Beau Butler,” he said to the guy behind the table just inside the door, holding out his hand in greeting.

“Welcome,” the guy said, shaking his hand. He looked up Beau’s name and handed him a packet with his key and some information. “Your resident assistant is Stuart Wells. He’ll come by to check on you later. If you need anything, just come down.”

“Hey, is my roommate here yet? I saw on the portal his name is Ryan Crosby, I think.”

“Uh, yeah. He just got here, it looks like.”

“Great, thanks!” Beau shook the guy’s hand again and carried his suitcase up to the third floor. He looked at the key envelope: Room 315.

He opened the door and saw Ryan sitting on his bed, looking through his phone. He looked up as Beau walked in. He seemed like a nice guy. Beau took a deep breath and smiled. This year was going to be great.