s how grounding it felt, the clean gleam of the stainless-steel counters, the hum of ovens already preheat

for prayer. Around me, chatter buzzed, the same voices from years past, some new, some too lou

th that perpetually stained chef's coat that somehow made him more authoritative

out quieter than intended,

ed my tools. "Still, the only student who tre

ments always made me itch. Still, I n

Today was laminated doughs, croissants, and puff pastry. The part of

r puffed up into their face. I kept my head down, hands steady. The anxiety that gnawed at me everywh

my station, lifting the edge of my dough to examine the layers.

tated, but I pretended not to notice. I tucked a strand

s cooled on my rack, their layers crisp and de

ols in precise order, wiped down my station until i

ng between classes, but I moved through it like a ghost,

tch. Meet me at

h her, I didn't have to

, perched on the stone ledge, iced drink in hand and sunglasse

kitchen witch," she t

nto her hug anyway, the comfor

he pulled back. "Bet you showed

the smile tugging at m

lation, you killed it, and Professor

spite myself

ned. "Never. I liv

tened by the breeze that finally, mercifully cut through the heat. St

ame three times in a row, her arms flailing as she mimicked his stammer. I li

voices. After baking came food science, a lecture heavy with f

arch gelatinization, and Maillard reactions every process

ew out questions no one wanted to answer, and my hand lifted before I could stop

me. I felt the heat crawl up my nec

d. I stopped by the student café for lunch and ate in the quietest corner I could find. Ma

agement. Numbers and margins, deadlines and flow charts. None of it thrilled me like the doughs and

st, weaving through clusters of students sprawled on the lawn or lounging by the fountain. Their laughter

I didn't

r mouth while rattling off plans for the weekend. A party invite, a movi

e all semester," she warned, point

ide," I sa

ve me

tted. "I selec

heads, and I found myself smiling despite

tch shadows across campus. I packed my things, slung my b

times, but here I had order, predictability, professors with syllabi

actly what was

ont of my building, and I stepped down onto the

wasn't really

had L

hing low through the wall, his presence was enough to make