A Place Between Us

A Place Between Us

Chapter one- A New Beginning

Shanghai, China

The first thing Brian noticed when he stepped out of the aeroplane was how terribly exhausted he was.

His shoulders ached, his legs felt heavy, and the strap of his backpack had been digging into his shoulder for the better part of the journey. He had spent so many hours sitting in one position that even walking through the airport felt like an effort.

Yet, despite his exhaustion, he couldn’t stop looking around.

Shanghai.

He had finally made it to China.

Brian paused near the arrival corridor, adjusting the strap of his backpack as he took in the enormous airport. The high ceilings, polished floors and endless streams of people made the place feel even larger than he had imagined. Announcements echoed overhead in Mandarin and English, while travellers hurried past with their suitcases.

For a moment, he simply stood there.

A strange mixture of excitement and uncertainty settled in his chest. He had imagined this day countless times, but standing in a country thousands of kilometres away from home was an entirely different experience.

He pulled out his phone and glanced at the screen.

A few messages from his mother greeted him, along with a reminder to inform her as soon as he had arrived.

A small smile tugged at his lips.

I wonder what she’s doing right now.

He quickly typed a message to let her know he had landed safely, then slipped his phone into his pocket.

“Well, Brian,” he murmured to himself, “welcome to China.”

He pushed a few strands of his thick, slightly tousled hair away from his forehead. They fell right back into place, prompting him to sigh.

After collecting his luggage and completing the necessary arrival procedures, Brian followed the signs toward the airport’s arrival hall.

That was when he remembered the university’s instructions.

A representative from the international student office was supposed to meet him and arrange transportation to the campus. He had been given the details before his departure, but after the long journey, his mind felt too foggy to recall every little thing.

He scanned the crowd, searching for a familiar sign.

Then he spotted it.

A young man stood near the designated meeting point, holding a white placard with the words Shanghai International Academy printed across it.

Brian’s face brightened.

“Finally.”

He wheeled his suitcase towards him.

“Excuse me. Are you from Shanghai International University ?”

The young man looked up from his phone.

“Yes. Brian Marvelous Oyekachi?”

“That’s me.”

“Welcome to Shanghai. I’m Li Wei, one of the student volunteers helping with international student arrivals.”

Brian returned his polite smile and offered a brief handshake.

“Thank you for coming to pick me up. I really appreciate it.”

“Of course. Was your flight comfortable?”

Brian considered the question.

“Comfortable? That’s a very generous way to describe sitting on a plane for hours.”

Li Wei laughed.

“I suppose you’re exhausted, then.”

“Exhausted is an understatement. I think my legs have forgotten how to function.”

“Well, let’s get you to the university before they give up completely.”

Brian chuckled, following him towards the exit.

The moment they stepped outside, a wave of unfamiliar warmth greeted him. He looked around at the busy road, the passing vehicles and the city beyond the airport.

Everything felt new.

As they made their way to the waiting vehicle, Brian glanced back at the airport before climbing inside.

Somewhere beyond this city was the university that would become his home for the foreseeable future. Somewhere were the classrooms where he would attend lectures, the people he would meet and the friendships he had yet to make.

He wondered what his roommates would be like.

Would they get along? Would he be able to adjust to living with people he had never met?

He shook his head lightly.

One problem at a time, Brian

The drive to the university gave him his first proper glimpse of Shanghai. Buildings rose above the busy streets, signs flashed past the windows, and the city seemed to stretch endlessly in every direction.

Brian leaned closer to the window, watching the scenery with undisguised curiosity.

He wished he could take pictures of everything, but his tiredness was beginning to catch up with him. He settled back in his seat, occasionally glancing at his phone to check for messages from home.

He missed his mother already.

The thought surprised him, although perhaps it shouldn’t have. He had been so occupied with preparing for his scholarship and travelling that he hadn’t given himself much time to consider what it would feel like to be so far away from his family.

For the first time since landing, the excitement was accompanied by a quiet sense of loneliness.

He looked out of the window again.

He was here now. There was no turning back from the life he had chosen to pursue.

And, somehow, that thought made him smile.

By the time they arrived at Shanghai International Academy, the sun had begun to sink towards the horizon.

Brian sat up as the vehicle passed through the university gates. He stared at the expansive campus, taking in the modern academic buildings, landscaped walkways and students moving between different sections of the grounds.

“So, this is it?” he asked.

Li Wei glanced at him through the rear-view mirror.

“This is it. Welcome to Shanghai International Academy.”

Brian let out a quiet breath.

“Wow.”

It was the only word he could manage.

After getting out of the vehicle, he retrieved his luggage and followed Li Wei towards the international student dormitory. The representative explained where the main academic buildings were, pointed out the cafeteria and briefly described how students could access the university’s facilities.

Brian tried his best to remember everything.

He really did.

But by the time they reached the dormitory, his mind had become a jumble of unfamiliar names and directions.

“Your room assignment has already been arranged,” Li Wei explained as they entered the building. “You’ll find your student information and timetable through the university’s student portal. Your classes will begin after the orientation programme.”

Brian nodded.

“Understood.”

“If you have any difficulties, you can contact the international student office. There will also be student volunteers available to help you settle in.”

“Thank you. You’ve been really helpful.”

“You’re welcome. Get some rest, Brian. You have a lot ahead of you.”

With one final smile, Li Wei left him to settle in.

Brian stood in the corridor for a moment, looking down at the room number written on his assignment sheet.

He dragged his suitcase towards the door and pushed it open.

The room was already occupied.

A few personal belongings were arranged around the space, suggesting that his roommates had arrived before him. One of the beds was neatly made, while another had a jacket casually thrown across it.

Brian hesitated at the entrance.

“Hello?”

A couple of heads turned in his direction.

There was a brief exchange of greetings, polite but somewhat awkward. Brian introduced himself, and his new roommates responded with their own names. He was too tired to make much conversation, and they seemed equally unsure of what to say to a newcomer.

He placed his luggage beside his assigned bed.

It wasn’t an unpleasant welcome. It was simply unfamiliar.

For the first time that day, Brian was alone with the realization that he would be sharing a room with people who, until a few minutes ago, had been complete strangers.

He unpacked a few essentials, changed into something more comfortable and sat on the edge of his bed.

His phone lit up with an incoming call from his mother.

He answered almost immediately.

“Hello, Mum.”

“Brian ! Have you arrived at the university?”

“Yes, Mum. I’m at the dormitory now.”

“Have you eaten? Are you comfortable? How was the journey?”

Brian laughed softly.

“Mum, one question at a time.”

He could hear her laughing on the other end, and the familiar sound eased something inside him.

They spoke for a little while longer. He told her about the airport, the university representative who had picked him up and how enormous the campus looked. He avoided mentioning just how homesick he was beginning to feel.

When the call ended, the room seemed quieter than before.

Brian stared at his phone for a few seconds before setting it aside.

He eventually made his way towards the balcony, where the evening air greeted him. From there, he could see parts of the campus illuminated by the fading daylight. Students walked along the paths below, laughing among themselves, their conversations blending into the distant hum of university life.

He rested his arms against the railing.

Somewhere in the distance, the city lights were beginning to appear.

He thought about home, about his mother, and about the life he had left behind to pursue this opportunity.

Then he looked out at the unfamiliar city before him.

He had come to Shanghai study and experience a world beyond everything he had known.

He hadn’t expected it to feel quite so lonely at the beginning.

But perhaps that was how new beginnings worked.

They didn’t always feel like beginnings.

Sometimes, they felt like standing in a strange place, surrounded by unfamiliar faces, wondering whether you would ever truly belong.

Brian took a deep breath and straightened.

“Well,” he whispered, “here’s to surviving my first day.”

A faint smile appeared on his face.

He had no idea how much his life was about to change, or how many unexpected people would eventually become part of it.

For now, all he wanted was a good night’s sleep.

Tomorrow, he would figure out the rest.