He quickly grabbed his things, leaving his textbooks behind in the rush. The coffee shop was only a short walk away from where he stays, but it felt like the longest walk of his life. As he entered the bustling cafe, the familiar scent of coffee and pastries filled his nostrils, a strange comfort amidst the chaos.The morning shift was quite busy, and Justin found himself juggling multiple tasks like taking orders, making drinks, and restocking supplies. The hours dragged on as he worked, and his mind wandered, thinking about many things, most especially the pile of responsibilities waiting for him at home. He was starting to feeling like he was constantly running but never getting ahead.Around midday, he managed to take a short break. He sat down in the backroom, his hand shaking slightly from exhaustion. He pulled out his phone and saw that Lilly had called him. He had not realized how much he missed her until now, her smile, and her presence. He quickly dialed her number.“Hey, J
Justin sat down on the worn out bench, staring out at the bustling campus quad. The world around him seemed to move in fast forward motion, students were hurrying from class to class, laughing in groups, talking with so much life, lost in the vibrancy of their college lives. To him, everything felt muted. The energy around him felt distance, almost unreachable.He pulled his jacket tighter around himself as the cold seeped into his bones despite the bright afternoon sun. His phone, which was kept in his pocket buzzed incessantly. Another message from his Dad. Another reminder about money. Justin did not have the energy to reply him.He had reached the point in his life where he was not sure how much longer he could keep juggling everything. Classes were getting more demanding, the coffee shop Jon had drained him, and his savings were almost gone. And on top of that, he barely had time to talk to Lilly anymore.He had promised her he would make it work, but as each day passed by, he wo
Justin looked at her as his defenses rose up. He had been doing this on his own for so long, had convinced himself that asking for help was a sign of weakness. After looking at her for a brief moment, he replied her almost too quickly. “I do not need your help.”She raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical about his reply. “Are you sure about that?”He did not reply her immediately. Instead, his gaze fell to the ground as his mind swirled with a mixture of pride and frustration. He had not been able to ask for help in months, not even from his father, not from people he considered as friends, and certainly not from anyone he had met on campus. It was just him, fighting to keep his head above water all this while.The girl's voice broke through his thoughts again. “I am Lilly, by the way. Lilly Tuscons. You seem like you could use a break. Maybe we could talk sometime. Or if you do need a distraction, I know a great cafe off campus.”Justin was quite surprised by the offer. More shocking w
The late afternoon sun filtered through the windows of the small cafe, which had become a regular place for Justin and Lilly Tuscons to meet these days, casting long shadow on the worn wooden tables. He sat across from Lilly, with a half empty cup of coffee in front of him.The two of them had settled into an easy rhythm over the past few weeks, their conversations and interactions had been flowing as naturally as possible, and as the laughter that often filled their meetings.Lilly looked at him, her eyes were bright with enthusiasm, as she talked about the dreams she had about becoming an architect.“You know, I have always loved designs of houses.” She said, using her hands to gesture at buildings animatedly. “The way buildings can tell a story, or shape a city, and also change lives. That is why I am here in this school. But it is much harder than I thought, you know?”Justin nodded at her, understanding more than she realized. He had been putting in long hours at the coffee shop,
Justin, still looking at her, raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued by her suggestions. “What does, Lilly?”She leaned forward, almost tipping off the coffee cup, her expression serious but appears hopeful. “What if we worked together? I mean, we have both got a lot on our plates, and it is hard. But both of us are also driven, and we both want the same thing, you know, success, a future, a life we can be proud of. What if we both helped each other out, supported each other through it all? Two heads are better than one, they say.”The idea hung in the air between the two of them, it felt tentative and powerful. The end point of what she was suggesting was not lost on Justin. It was not just about their academics or survival as she had painted it like, it was more about partnership, about trusting each other to lean on when the road got too rough to walk alone, under the auspices of a romantic relationship.For a while, Justin was quiet as he tried to process her words. Things are a bit
The sound of raindrops tapping against the windows was the first thing Justin heard as he sat in the dimly lit living room of Lilly's small apartment. He had come to spend the evening with her after a long week of exams, but the atmosphere was not exactly the way he wanted it. There was evident tension in the air. Lilly had not been her usual self lately and it was easily noticeable. She seemed distant, her usual warmth had been replaced by an underlying sense of worry that she herself could not shake off.When she finally joined on the couch in the room, her expression was tired, her shoulders slumped in a way that spoke volumes. She had been quiet ever since she arrived, and Justin could feel the storm that seems to be brewing beneath the surface.He turned to her and asked gently. “Lilly,” he said as he took her hand in his softly. “Is anything the problem? What is going in?”She looked him, her eyes hoping to find some form of understanding in his face. She sighed before replyin
Justin's heart ached as he realized the depth of her internal struggle. He could see that it was not just about her family's disapproval, it was also about her fear of failing, her fear of choosing him and losing everything she had worked for.“Lilly, listen to me,” he said as he took her face in his hands. “I am not asking you to risk everything. I am asking you to take a chance on us. We have got dreams, we have got our ambition. We will figure it out, together. I promise you.”But even as he said those words, he knew it was not just her family that was a challenge. There were also the harsh realities of his financial struggles and hers as a student.Despite his part time job at the coffee shop and the small scholarships he had earned due to his academic brilliance since he got to college, money was always right. He saw the way Lilly pinched pennies too sometimes, the way she hesitated before spending on anything big or small atimes, like a coffee or a new textbook.The weight of th
The sun had barely risen as it casted a golden hue over the sprawling campus. Justin was sitting on the steps outside Lilly's apartment, his girlfriend, waiting for her to finish her morning routine. It was a rare moment of calm for him before the chaos of the day starts.His mind wandered back to the previous months, everything he and Lilly had gone through so far, everything they had overcome. It had not been easy but somehow, they both had managed to build something that felt solid, something that felt real and did not waver under the fears Lilly had.The door creaked open, and Lilly stepped outside, her hair ties backwards in a loose bun, a mug of coffee in her hand. She offered Justin a very tired smile, one that spoke volumes more than any words could.“Good morning,” Justin greeted her, his voice filled with affection as always.“Good morning to you too,” Lilly replied him as she sat down beside him, her body leaning against his in that comfortable way that had become second na
Justin sat on the worn out couch in the living room one night, his head in his hands. Bills were scattered across the coffee table, each one was a reminder of the dwindling finances in his marriage. The hum of the old ceiling fan filled the silence, but it did not do anything much to ease the tension in the room.Lilly walked in with a hesitant look on her face as she glanced at the stack of envelopes on the table. Moving closer to him, she gently opened her mouth to talk.“Any luck today?” She asked Justin softly as she placed a hand on his shoulder.Justin shook his head and sighed. “I went to three interviews, and they all said the same thing. They are all looking for someone with more experience.” His voice was tight and edged with frustration.“I am trying my best Lilly. I really am.”“I know you are baby,” she replied him as she sat down beside him. She hesitated for a moment before continuing, as if weighing her words carefully. “But Justin, maybe it is time we consider anothe
“You mean everything to me too babe,” she would always reply to him whenever she sees such with her eyes glistening with tears.This continued till weeks and months passes by and Justin finally landed a temporary position at a small logistics company. Though the pay was not that much, it gave him a new beacon of hope. He started the job and have it all he have, determined to prove his worth and climb the ladder. However, the long hours and demanding tasks often left him drained.On the other hand, Lilly's own frustrations had started to show. “I feel like we are just surviving,” she admitted one night after work. “I know we said we would get through this together, but sometimes I wonder if we are in over our heads.”Justin took her hand in his with a firm grip but also gentle touch.“We are not in over our heads babe. We are just at the starting line. Things will get better for us, we just have to keep pushing.”She sighed in frustration and resignation.But as time went in and on, t
The sun rose on the tiny apartment Justin and Lilly called their home. It was their first morning as husband and wife, and though the place was small, it felt like their own piece of heaven. Justin woke to the smell of coffee brewing from the kitchen and saw his newly wedded wife, Lilly, humming softly in the kitchen, her smile now brighter than the morning light.“Good morning, My darling wife,” Justin said as he wrapped his arms around her from behind in the kitchen.She laughed as she turned around to face him. “Good morning, my lovely husband. How does it feel to wake up as a married man?”“It feels perfect,” he said in response, with his voice warm with conviction. “No matter what happens, we will make this work.”Lilly nodded with her eyes sparkling with hope. “We will baby. Together.”He leaned in to kiss her softly, she also responded in equal measure as they both share a passionate morning kiss.The first few weeks of their marriage were filled optimism. They had little mone
Lilly turned to face him with her eyes full of curiosity. “What do you mean?”“I mean, we have always known that we wnated to be together, but now that we have graduated, I think it is time to take that next and necessary step,” he said as his heart pounded in his chest.“Lilly, I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I want to build a future with you, no matter what it takes.”Lilly's eyes softened, her expression was that of warmth and love. “I have always known that for a long time, Justin. But hearing you say it….”Her voice trailed off as she reached for his hand, intertwining their fingers. “I want that too. I want to spend forever with you.”Justin smiled brightly as a wave of relief and happiness wash over him. He had spent so much of his life trying to fight for everything he had, but in this moment, everything felt right. They had built something beautiful together, a love, a partnership, and a future.“I am glad,” he said with sincerity in his voice. “Because I want t
The sound of applause echoed through the grand hall as Justin and Lilly stood side by side, caps and gowns in place, their hearts pounding with the weight of the moment. They had made it.After years of struggles, sacrifices, and relentless effort, they had finally reached the pinnacle of their academic journey. The Graduation Day.Justin's eyes met that of Lilly's in the crowded hall, her smile very bright against the sea of graduates. There was a quiet understanding between them , a shared sense of accomplishment that no words could truly capture.This was their moment, the culmination of everything they had fought for, everything they had built together in school. As the ceremony progressed, with speeches and ceremonial rituals, Justin could not help but reflect on the path that had brought him here.He thought about the days he had spent working multiple jobs, the nights he had spent studying while struggling to stay awake, and the moments when he had doubted whether it would all
They both sat in silence for a moment, both of them were lost in thought as they contemplate about the future they could create.They had always supported each other through everything, through the late nights studying, the financial struggles, the pressure from Lilly's family.But at the moment, as they both neared the end of their college journey, it felt like the foundation they had been building for the past few years was finally starting to take shape.“What do you see for us?” She finally asked quietly, her voice almost tentative.Justin looked at her, noticing the faint determination in her eyes. He could see that the she was becoming a woman, the woman she had always been, strong, capable, and dull of ambition. But he also saw the depth of love she had for him, the willingness to fight for those times and what they shared.“I can see us creating a life together,” he answered her slowly, thinking carefully about his words. “I see us working together, building something that is
The sun had barely risen as it casted a golden hue over the sprawling campus. Justin was sitting on the steps outside Lilly's apartment, his girlfriend, waiting for her to finish her morning routine. It was a rare moment of calm for him before the chaos of the day starts.His mind wandered back to the previous months, everything he and Lilly had gone through so far, everything they had overcome. It had not been easy but somehow, they both had managed to build something that felt solid, something that felt real and did not waver under the fears Lilly had.The door creaked open, and Lilly stepped outside, her hair ties backwards in a loose bun, a mug of coffee in her hand. She offered Justin a very tired smile, one that spoke volumes more than any words could.“Good morning,” Justin greeted her, his voice filled with affection as always.“Good morning to you too,” Lilly replied him as she sat down beside him, her body leaning against his in that comfortable way that had become second na
Justin's heart ached as he realized the depth of her internal struggle. He could see that it was not just about her family's disapproval, it was also about her fear of failing, her fear of choosing him and losing everything she had worked for.“Lilly, listen to me,” he said as he took her face in his hands. “I am not asking you to risk everything. I am asking you to take a chance on us. We have got dreams, we have got our ambition. We will figure it out, together. I promise you.”But even as he said those words, he knew it was not just her family that was a challenge. There were also the harsh realities of his financial struggles and hers as a student.Despite his part time job at the coffee shop and the small scholarships he had earned due to his academic brilliance since he got to college, money was always right. He saw the way Lilly pinched pennies too sometimes, the way she hesitated before spending on anything big or small atimes, like a coffee or a new textbook.The weight of th
The sound of raindrops tapping against the windows was the first thing Justin heard as he sat in the dimly lit living room of Lilly's small apartment. He had come to spend the evening with her after a long week of exams, but the atmosphere was not exactly the way he wanted it. There was evident tension in the air. Lilly had not been her usual self lately and it was easily noticeable. She seemed distant, her usual warmth had been replaced by an underlying sense of worry that she herself could not shake off.When she finally joined on the couch in the room, her expression was tired, her shoulders slumped in a way that spoke volumes. She had been quiet ever since she arrived, and Justin could feel the storm that seems to be brewing beneath the surface.He turned to her and asked gently. “Lilly,” he said as he took her hand in his softly. “Is anything the problem? What is going in?”She looked him, her eyes hoping to find some form of understanding in his face. She sighed before replyin