The hallway of the west dormitory, i.e., the female side, was unusually silent, the kind of heavy quiet that follows a storm. Normally it would be filled with the white noise of idle chatter, laughter and the footsteps of students coming and going to and from their rooms.
But now, as Emelie stood in front of her room door, the space around her felt uncomfortably small and empty.
She hovered her knuckles over the wood once again and took another deep breath as her chest tightened with guilt and deep regret at how she had dismissed her best friend on that rainy evening.
Finally, her knuckles met the door. It wasn't the usual "secret knock" that Amy made up just for the two of them in case the door was locked. It was three dull, hesitant thuds.
"Amy." Emelie spoke softly as she leaned her head against the cool surface of the door. "I know you're in there. I can see the faint light coming from below. May I come inside?"
Nothing.
