Salvation

The winter break seems to be stretching longer than I thought it would, and the temperature is making things harder for a girl like me.

I'm loving Chicago.

After a month of my first year at the University of Chicago, I'd become addicted to the air that seemed to blow through this place. Or, to be exact, this place was quietly becoming my safe place.

I reached for my phone, which had been ringing somewhere beneath my blanket.

“Laylaaa…” the voice spoke from the other side of the phone.

“Hey, what's up?” I asked.

“Layla, did you see the notice on the college website? They're holding a prom party…”

“A PROM PARTYYYY!” she squealed with excitement.

“Uh-huh. Good for you. You can finally ask out Wales,” I replied, putting toothpaste on my brush.

“Layla… aren't you excited? Come on, it would be an amazing event! And just the thought of shopping for dresses takes me to cloud eight.”

“Oh, why cloud eight?”

“‘Cause I've reserved cloud nine for prom night,” she giggled.

I couldn't help but smile. Barbara isn't someone you can easily resist. She's got such a bubbly personality that even an INFJ like me gets swept up in her enthusiasm and eventually lured into her words.

“Okay, okay. We'll have the ‘pre-prom event’ talk after we reach the dorm. I have to go now. Byeee!”

“Okay, Laylaaa…!”

I heard another excited murmur from the other side, followed by silence. Then I hung up.