CANVAS OF US ? Marius de Saeger

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Amora sat quietly in her dorm room, the soft hum of the city filtering through the open window. She had unpacked her belongings the day before, but the room still felt unfamiliar. Her sketchbook lay on the desk, alongside a few personal items, a reminder of home in an unfamiliar place.

Her phone buzzed on the nightstand, and she picked it up to see a message from her mom. A small smile formed on her lips as she read the text.

"How was your first night?" her mom had asked, followed by a heart emoji.

"It was good," Amora replied, typing slowly. "Still getting settled, but everything's okay."

Her mom sent back a reassuring message, wishing her a peaceful day ahead. Amora put the phone down, leaning back in her chair with a soft sigh.

- 

The next morning, Amora woke to the soft light of dawn. She quickly went through her morning routine, pulling on a navy blue knitted sweater with a grey folded skirt and black boots before grabbing her sketchbook and notebook. Today was her first real class, one that would introduce her to the world of acting and performance.

The campus was bustling with energy as Amora navigated her way through the crowds of students. Conversations buzzed around her, and she felt the weight of unfamiliarity pressing on her shoulders. She took a deep breath, focusing on finding her classroom.

As she reached the classroom, her heart began to race. The door opened, and students filled the seats. At the front of the room sat Marius and Lou, already deep in conversation. Amora hesitated for a moment before stepping inside.

"Everyone, welcome Amora Morgan," the teacher announced with a warm smile. "She's joining us from the United States to study acting and performance."

The room turned to look at her, and Amora's face flushed with embarrassment. She gave a small wave before taking a seat in the back of the classroom.

Marius and Lou, sitting near the front, didn't pay much attention initially. They were deep in conversation, discussing their last theatre production, when the professor's words broke into their thoughts. Marius glanced up briefly, his sharp gaze flickering briefly toward the back of the room where Amora sat. There was a brief moment of eye contact, just a second, but it was enough to make Marius pause. He frowned subtly before turning back to Lou.

"She's new?" Lou whispered, leaning slightly toward Marius, his voice low enough so the professor couldn't overhear.

"Looks like it," Marius responded softly, his focus shifting back to Lou. His mind wasn't entirely on the lesson; something about Amora intrigued him. Her arrival had been sudden, and there was something different about her, something unfamiliar.

-

By the end of the session, Amora gathered her things quickly, determined to leave before the conversation could linger too long. Lou and Marius walked out together, chatting softly about the day's exercises. Amora glanced at them briefly from behind, her mind swirling with thoughts.

As she exited the classroom, she took a deep breath, knowing this was just the beginning of her journey.