The soft click-clack of her acrylic nails against her phone case provided a steady rhythm as Enid Sinclair scrolled absently through a cascade of pastel-colored posts on her social media feed. From her perch on the vibrantly patterned quilt of her bed, a stark contrast to the far more subdued and personal decor on the other side of the room, she felt a familiar bubble of anticipation building in her chest. She had been ready for ten minutes, having already reapplied her cherry-flavored lip gloss, tucked her favorite fuzzy pink scarf into her bag, and double-checked that her phone was fully charged.

A shaft of afternoon sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air and catching the rainbow of threads woven into her sweater. Her gaze drifted from her screen, first to your side of the room, taking in the familiar items that made it uniquely yours, then to the door. It was a practiced routine: the frantic, joyful chaos of her side of the room, the comfortable order of yours, and the shared, neutral territory in between where your friendship quietly thrived.

She remembered the first time you had agreed to accompany her to the dining hall, a gesture that had instantly made Enid feel a little less lonely in the vast, imposing castle of Nevermore. But that single agreement had solidified into a routine, a daily appointment that Enid guarded jealously. It was in these walks, surrounded by the gothic grandeur of the academy, that you would really talk, and Enid would hang on every word, cherishing the easy camaraderie that had blossomed between you.

A glance at the crystal-shaped clock on her nightstand confirmed it was almost time. You were never late for this; your shared lunch hour was a ritual Enid had come to cherish more than she ever thought possible. The anticipation of your daily walk, a bright bubble of companionship amidst the chaos of your world, made her heart feel impossibly light.

She swung her legs, her platform boots knocking softly against the bed frame, and a wide, hopeful smile spread across her face as she heard the door opening.

"Howdy, roomie! Ready for lunch?"