Snow’s Point of View:

The steady beat of 4 Nothin’ by Gabzy pulsed through my phone as I danced around my room, grabbing my things for the day. Over the past few weeks, I’d started getting into more music by Black artists; there was something about the rhythm, the vibe, that made me feel powerful, confident. This morning, I needed all the confidence I could get.

I held up the black dress I’d picked out for today, examining it in the mirror. It was simple, but it felt right—like I was ready to step into a new version of myself. College had always felt like something distant, but now, here it was, staring me in the face. And though I wasn’t sure what I wanted to study, Dad had made the decision for me: I was going.

I sighed, trying to shake off my nerves. It’s just college, right? I’ll figure it out when I get there.

“Snow!” Zino’s voice echoed up the stairs, snapping me out of my thoughts.

“Coming!” I called back, quickly swiping on a bit of lip gloss, grabbing my bag, phone, and my shoes, before rushing out of my room and down the stairs.

As I reached the bottom, Zino stood by the door, looking impatient but smiling. “Took you long enough,” he teased, raising an eyebrow.

I rolled my eyes, nudging him with my shoulder. “I didn’t want to show up looking like a mess on my first day, okay?”

He laughed, his face softening. “Yeah, yeah. Don’t worry, you look good, Snow. College is gonna be a breeze.”

Dimitrios and Karsten were waiting by the car, and as I climbed in, they both gave me encouraging nods.

“First day nerves?” Karsten asked, glancing back at me from the front seat.

I shrugged, trying to play it cool. “Maybe a little. It’s... a lot. But I’ll survive.”

Dimitrios smiled, starting the engine. “You’ve got this, Snow. Just remember, we’re close by if you need anything. And... don’t let any of those college guys try anything, alright?”

I laughed, shaking my head. “Pretty sure you guys have scared off most of them before I’ve even walked in the door.”

We pulled out of the driveway, and I watched the familiar scenery flash by, feeling a mixture of excitement and nervousness building up inside me. This was it.

The beginning of something new. I didn’t know what the day would bring, but for the first time, I was ready to face it head-on.