Alexis fumbled with her phone, thumbs trembling as she scanned dozens of unread group chats marked with unfamiliar names, apparently her friends. Her new dorm room glowed with morning light, high ceilings and designer bedding making the place feel more like a hotel than a school. The scent of coffee drifted from the little kitchenette. Across the room, her roommate, a girl with sharp eyes and a perfectly ironed uniform, leaned against the window, tapping her own phone.
“You coming to breakfast, Lex?”
she called, glancing over. Alexis pulled the covers tighter, pulse racing. She caught sight of herself in the full-length mirror: long hair, flawless skin, a shape she’d only seen in movies. Her uniform lay neatly folded at the end of the bed. She had no idea how to put it on. The clock on her phone blinked: ten minutes until assembly. Her roommate’s gaze lingered, expectant. Somewhere in the hallway, laughter echoed. Doors slammed. Alexis took a shaky breath, feeling every second slip away.