Dormitory – Rosetta Pilar's Room
In the corner of the small room, where the light softly spilled from the lamp, Rosetta sat at her small white desk, her sky-blue notebook open before her, adorned with cloud-shaped stickers as if trying to add a touch of childhood innocence to a life that had been forced to mature far too soon.
She picked up her pen, sighed softly, and began to write:
"A week has passed since I arrived in this new country. Classes started just five days ago. I must strive to be excellent, never neglect my studies… because my entire future depends on this."
"As an orphan at the age of eighteen, I no longer have the right to return to the orphanage; I must live on my own, be responsible for myself. This is not a choice, but a reality I was forced to adapt to."
"Yes, I will work hard. Fortunately, this scholarship covers my accommodation, food, and a monthly allowance. It's a wonderful scholarship, and I'm deeply grateful to have received it."
"All I dream of is a simple and dignified life. A warm apartment, a full stomach, and an honest job that I can take pride in and that preserves my dignity."
"But... I'm afraid the allowance won't be enough. What if the money runs out? Should I start working? Yes, I think working part-time sounds good! Maybe a job at a café? That seems suitable... Tomorrow, I will start looking for a café job. That way, I will manage things better."
"I've met a lovely girl in nursing school, a polite and cheerful classmate who makes me laugh a lot. I feel like we're going to be real friends... in fact, I think we already are, as we've started hanging out together and spending some time outside the lecture hall."
"But... there's always fear that follows me. I fear failing in my studies, losing this scholarship, being forced to return to my country to wander the streets. I fear the cold, hunger, and loneliness... and the scariest thought of all is being an easy target for any man who might think to harm me."
Rosetta paused, her face slightly paling. She shook her head firmly, then wiped her face with her hands and said to herself with determination:
"No, Rosetta. Don't think like that. You will succeed, you will excel, and you will reach your goal… You are strong, and you will get there."
She closed her notebook gently, then stood up from her chair and walked to her small bed, throwing herself onto it. She placed her right hand over her left on her stomach, looking at the ceiling with a faint smile and said:
"The room is small... but it's comfortable and quiet. I think it will be perfect for studying."
She covered herself with the blanket and prepared to sleep, whispering:
"Tomorrow, I'll start looking for a café job... I have to wake up early, like every day. But for now... I feel so sleepy..."
She closed her eyes slowly, and soon fell into a deep sleep, her breathing steady, her features reflecting both exhaustion and peace.
Rosetta's room was simple but neatly arranged. The walls were a calm cream color, with a small white desk and chair in one corner. On the opposite wall, a wooden wardrobe held her clothes and shoes. The bed was pressed against the wall, covered with a light white wool blanket. Finally, a medium-sized mirror with a simple silver frame hung on the wall.
---
The alarm clock rang annoyingly (beep beep beep), and Rosetta jolted awake, her face scrunching in annoyance:
"Ugh... this annoying alarm!"
She glanced at the clock; it was 5:30 a.m. She got up from her bed and walked steadily towards the shared bathroom for the female students. As with every morning, just like the past five days, she was the first to wake up.
She muttered softly while washing her face:
"As usual... I'm always the first to wake up. It's fine. I need to get ready now to go out and look for a job."
She took a hot shower, brushed her teeth, and dressed in her sky-blue hoodie and loose navy pants. Returning to her room, she closed the door behind her and stood before the mirror, combing her short brown hair.
In her bangs, there were three small locks dyed sky blue. It was a color she loved deeply, a color that reflected her inner self: calm, poised, and wise… a color that resembled her in many ways.
Rosetta wasn't born with this balanced personality; she forged it herself, carved from the depths of pain and deprivation. At nineteen, she seemed like an almost perfect girl to everyone, but behind that façade was a history filled with pain.
She spent her childhood with poor parents. Her father worked at a small bakery, and her mother was a seamstress at home. They barely made ends meet, but despite the hardships, their home was always warm with love.
Then everything collapsed suddenly. Her parents died in a horrific car accident while going to visit a relative. It was said that the car was completely shattered, and their features were barely recognizable due to the severity of the crash. Rosetta was at school when she heard the news, and when she found out, she collapsed to the ground, unable to get up… The shock rendered her numb, and at the age of eight, she became an orphan.
Her relatives refused to take her in. Not because they didn't love her, but because most of Rosetta's family were poor, unable to bear any additional burden. So, her uncle sent her to the "Nirafin" orphanage for girls. There... began a new chapter of pain, learning, and transformation.
At the orphanage, she learned patience, wisdom, and self-control. She learned how to hide her tears, how to be a strong, balanced girl, and how to remain silent when shouting was futile. And that is how she became the person she is now.
A composed girl who knows when to speak and when to stay silent, strong and unbreakable, with a kind heart that hides a history of wounds.
Rosetta returned to her desk, made herself a warm cup of tea, and enjoyed it with a piece of croissant. She sat quietly reviewing her lessons, a faint smile forming on her face each time she understood a line well.
When the alarm clock signaled it was 7:30 a.m., she took a deep breath, then left the dormitory, determined to find a part-time job at a café.
In her eyes was the look of a girl who hadn't slept enough the night before, but despite that, she was ready to face the world.