As Jane steps through the dorm door, a small sigh escapes her lips.
The scent of warm veggie dumplings fills the hallway, and Mia's voice rings from the couch, casually flipping through her phone.
"Hey, you're back," Mia says, noticing the slightly distant look in Jane's eyes. She stands up, stretching, her voice playful.
"I thought you'd be back sooner. Did you get lost in the world of dumplings?"
Jane shakes her head, walking toward the small kitchen area, her footsteps a bit slower than usual. "No, just... tired."
Mia raises an eyebrow, crossing her arms. She leans against the counter, studying Jane with a look that suggests she's not buying it.
"Tired, huh? You look like you've been carrying the weight of the world.
Long shift?" she asks, tone laced with light teasing. "Or is it something more dramatic?"
Jane forces a smile, but it's a little stiff. She sets the takeout containers down on the table, avoiding Mia's gaze for a moment. "Just a lot on my mind, I guess."
Mia steps closer, her expression softening. "Want to talk about it?"
"I don't even know where to start." Jane exhales, rubbing her temple lightly.
She grabs a fork, twirling it absently through the air, trying to shake off the cloud that seems to hang over her.
"I just feel like... I don't know, like I'm stuck between being someone I'm supposed to be and someone I actually am, you know?"
Mia looks at her with understanding. She's always known Jane had a tendency to bottle things up, but it's rare for her to admit when something's off.
Mia drops her playful tone and moves to sit next to Jane. "You don't have to have it all figured out. I get it.
Sometimes we all feel like we're living in other people's expectations, but hey, you don't have to carry all that weight alone."
Jane looks over at Mia, her gaze softening. "Thanks. It's just... sometimes I feel like I'm always in someone else's shadow, you know?
Like I don't get to make my own choices without them being questioned."
Mia leans back on her hands, nodding. "I hear you. But you're strong, Jane.
You don't need anyone's permission to be yourself. I know it's not easy, but you've got more control than you think."
Jane gives her a grateful smile, feeling a little lighter. "Yeah, I know. Maybe I just need to stop thinking about it so much."
"Good luck with that," Mia teases, nudging her. "You're like, the queen of overthinking. But hey, we all have our quirks."
Jane laughs, the sound a bit more genuine now. "True."
They sit in comfortable silence for a moment, Jane finally picking up the dumplings and taking a bite.
Mia watches her, noting the change in her demeanor—still a little distant, but less heavy than when she walked in.
"You know," Mia says, breaking the quiet, "this whole overthinking thing? It's kinda overrated.
Just take a breath and enjoy the little things. Like these dumplings. They're basically a gift from heaven."
Jane smiles, her eyes softening as she looks at the food. "Yeah, you're right. I need to stop worrying about everything and just... live a little."
Mia grins, clearly pleased to see Jane's mood lighten. "Exactly.
Now eat up. We've got a whole night ahead of us, and I'm not letting you waste it being all broody."
The two girls sat cross-legged on the floor, the now-empty dumpling containers pushed off to the side.
A soft instrumental playlist hummed from Mia's speaker, filling the air with a low, mellow calm.
Jane leaned back against the edge of the bed, chewing the last bite of her dumpling. "You were right," she murmured. "These are magic."
Mia grinned, licking sauce off her thumb. "I'm never wrong about food. That's like... my superpower."
Jane chuckled, the sound quieter now, more relaxed. "Noted. When the world ends, I'm sticking with you."
"You better," Mia smirked. "I'll be the one trading dumplings for survival supplies."
They both laughed. The dorm light was dim, just one small lamp on in the corner casting a soft golden hue across the room.
Outside the window, the hum of traffic and faraway laughter drifted in like a lullaby of the city.
Jane pulled her knees up, resting her chin on them as she stared out at the window.
"You ever feel like something's about to change… but you don't know what?"
Mia blinked. The tone was quieter now—thoughtful, maybe even hesitant.
"I don't know," Jane added quickly. "Just feels like... something's shifting lately."
Mia didn't answer right away. Instead, she stood up, grabbed two small juice boxes from their tiny fridge, and tossed one to Jane.
"You think too much," she said with a smile as she sat back down.
"I know." Jane laughed under her breath and took a sip.
A long moment passed, peaceful and still. Then Mia broke it, tilting her head slightly.
"Whatever it is that's messing with your head, you don't have to figure it all out tonight. Change doesn't need permission. It just... happens."
Jane looked over at her, thoughtful.
"Yeah. I guess you're right."
Mia lifted her juice box like a toast. "To change, and dumplings, and not getting hit by cars this week."
Jane smiled, clinking hers against Mia's.
"To all of that."
The night winds down with the two of them lying on their beds, quiet laughter trailing off as sleep edges closer.
Jane stares up at the ceiling, her mind still lingering in the silence—but not heavy like before.
Not sad. Just wondering.
The lights were off now, save for the faint glow of the city beyond the window.
Jane lay curled on her side, her blanket pulled halfway up, one hand tucked beneath her cheek.
Across the room, Mia was already half-asleep, her steady breathing a soft rhythm in the dark.
The room was still.
But Jane's mind wasn't.
Not loud, not restless—just quiet thoughts, floating somewhere between fatigue and something unnamed.
That lingering look. The unexpected encounter. The ache she didn't know how to name.
She exhaled slowly, her eyes tracing the pattern of faint shadows on the ceiling.
Then, as if giving herself permission, she let it go—just for tonight.
"Night, Mia," she whispered.
From the other bed, a sleepy mumble replied, "Night, dumpling girl…"
Jane smiled to herself.
Tomorrow could come with all its questions.
But tonight?
Tonight was soft.