Chapter 1: New City, New Life

The moment the bus finally came to a stop, my heart started beating faster than usual. I tightened my grip on the handle of my suitcase and looked out the window at the tall buildings surrounding me. New York City.

I was really here.

For a few seconds, I just sat there, staring. Cars were honking, people were rushing past each other on the sidewalk, and everything felt loud, fast, and unfamiliar. It was nothing like home. Back there, life was slower, quieter, predictable. Here, it felt like the world was moving at full speed, and I wasn’t sure if I could keep up.

“Miss, we’re at the last stop,” the driver said, glancing at me through the mirror.

“Oh,sorry,” I replied quickly, snapping back to reality.

I stood up, adjusted the strap of my bag on my shoulder, and carefully stepped down from the bus. The cool air hit my face immediately, and I took a deep breath, trying to calm the nervous feeling in my chest.

This was it.

A new city.

A new life.

A new beginning.

I reminded myself why I came here in the first place. I had earned a scholarship to study Law at Hudson State University,my dream course. Not everyone gets an opportunity like that, and I wasn’t about to waste it just because I felt scared.

Still, fear had a way of creeping in, especially when you were alone.

I dragged my suitcase along the sidewalk, trying not to look as lost as I felt. People walked past me confidently, like they had their lives completely figured out. Meanwhile, I was just hoping I wouldn’t get lost before even reaching my dorm.

After what felt like forever, I finally arrived at the university gate. The words HUDSON STATE UNIVERSITY were written boldly across the entrance, and students were moving in and out with excitement and laughter.

My stomach flipped.

This place was huge.

Students stood in groups, chatting and smiling like they had known each other for years. Some were taking pictures, others were hugging their parents goodbye. I suddenly felt very small standing there by myself.

I adjusted my oversized sweater and pulled it down slightly, a habit I had developed over the years. Growing up, people always had something to say about my body,too big, too different, too noticeable. Even when I tried to ignore them, their words stayed in my head longer than I liked to admit.

But this was supposed to be a fresh start.

“No more hiding,” I whispered quietly to myself.

Taking a deep breath, I walked toward the dorm building listed on the paper in my hand. My legs felt heavy, but I kept going anyway. Each step felt like a promise,to my parents, to my brother, and to myself.

When I finally reached the dorm room door, I paused.

Room 204.

I knocked gently.

A few seconds later, the door swung open, and a tall girl with curly hair and a bright smile stood in front of me.

“Hey! You must be Hannah!” she said excitedly.

I blinked, slightly surprised. “Uh… yes.”

“I’m Maya,” she said, stepping aside to let me in. “Come in, come in. We’ve been waiting for you.”

Inside the room, another girl sat on one of the beds, scrolling through her phone. She looked up immediately and smiled warmly.

“I’m Tiffany,” she said calmly. “Welcome.”

I stepped inside slowly, looking around the room that would be my new home for the next few years. My suitcase felt heavier than usual, but the friendly atmosphere made me relax just a little.

Maya closed the door behind me and leaned against it casually.

“So, what course are you studying?” she asked.

“Law,” I replied, adjusting the strap of my bag on my shoulder. “It’s always been my dream.”

Her eyes lit up.

“Wow, that’s impressive,” she said. “I’m studying Journalism. I love writing and telling stories, so it just made sense.”

Tiffany nodded with a small smile.

“And I’m in Accounting,” she added. “Numbers have always been my thing.”

I let out a soft breath, feeling the tension in my chest slowly fade.

For the first time since arriving in New York, the tight knot in my stomach loosened just a little. These girls seemed normal… friendly… welcoming.

Maybe I wouldn’t feel so alone after all.

I set my suitcase down beside the bed and glanced around the room again. It wasn’t perfect, and I was still nervous, but something inside me whispered that this was the start of something important.

And deep down, I knew one thing for sure,

my life was about to change in ways I never expected.

Zachary’s POV

The loud cheers from the football field echoed across campus as I threw the ball hard toward Tyler. He caught it easily and raised his hand in victory while the rest of the team clapped and shouted.

“Nice throw, Zach!” Coach yelled from the sidelines.

I nodded once but didn’t smile. To everyone else, this was exciting. To me, it was just another practice. Another expectation. Another responsibility.

Sweat dripped down my face as I ran across the field again, blocking out the noise around me. The sun was hot, and my muscles ached, but I kept pushing myself harder than anyone else.

That was the only way to survive in my world,be the best or be nothing.

After practice ended, my teammates gathered around, laughing and joking like they didn’t have a care in the world. Tyler walked up to me, tossing a bottle of water in my direction.

“You played like a beast today,” he said with a grin.

I caught the bottle and took a long drink before responding.

“Just doing my job,” I said calmly.

Adrian joined us, shaking his head.

“Man, you act like this stuff doesn’t matter,” he said. “You’re literally the star of the team.”

I shrugged slightly.

It didn’t feel like success.

It felt like pressure.

My phone suddenly vibrated in my pocket. I didn’t even need to check the screen to know who it was.

Dad.

I sighed quietly before answering.

“Zachary,” his deep voice said immediately. “I hope you’re not wasting time again. Remember, football is temporary. The real future is the business.”

My jaw tightened.

“I know,” I replied shortly.

“You have a meeting with me this weekend,” he continued. “We need to discuss your responsibilities at Reed Global.”

Responsibilities.

That word again.

The call ended, and I stared at my phone for a few seconds, frustration building inside my chest. No matter how hard I tried, it was never enough. There was always another expectation waiting for me.

“Everything okay?” Tyler asked, noticing my expression.

“Yeah,” I replied quickly, slipping the phone back into my pocket.

But it wasn’t okay.

Not even close.

Later that evening, I sat alone in my room, staring at the sketchbook resting on my desk. The pencil lay beside it, untouched. I reached for it slowly and opened the book to a half-finished drawing.

A portrait.

Carefully shaded lines. Soft details. Something real.

This was the only place where I felt free.

I picked up the pencil and continued drawing, letting the world fade away for a moment. No football. No business. No expectations.

Just me.

But deep down, I knew one thing for sure,

No matter how hard I tried to escape it, the life my father planned for me was getting closer every day.