When the Wind Stopped

The Library at One in the Morning

Winter in England always seemed to arrive too early.

By the time Xiao Qiao stepped out of the convenience store, the sky was already completely dark. The wind stung against her face, and she pulled her scarf a little higher before glancing down at her phone.

Her professor had sent an email half an hour ago saying their presentation had been moved to nine tomorrow morning, and everyone needed to revise their PowerPoint tonight.

Xiao Qiao stared at the email for a few seconds before finally letting out a resigned sigh.

She had classes from eight in the morning until three in the afternoon, then rushed straight to her part-time shift at the convenience store. Her legs were aching so badly now that all she wanted was to go back to her dorm and sleep.

But she had no choice.

The scholarship requirements were strict, and she didn't dare let her grades drop.

The university library was still a ten-minute walk from her dorm. A light drizzle had been falling the entire evening, and her shoes were slightly wet, cold against the pavement.

Suddenly, she missed home.

Around this time last year, her family in China was probably already preparing for Lunar New Year.

A few days ago, her mother had video-called her and asked when she was coming home. Xiao Qiao had smiled and said, "Plane tickets are too expensive. Maybe next year."

But the truth wasn't that the tickets were expensive.

She simply didn't have much money left.

During her first few months in England, everything had been difficult. She couldn't fully understand lectures, groceries were expensive, and the first time she tried opening a bank account, she stood at the counter for nearly ten minutes because she couldn't understand what the staff member was saying.

The people waiting behind her kept staring at her.

That night, she went back to her dorm and cried quietly for hours.

Eventually, though, she got used to it.

She learned when supermarkets put discounted bread on the shelves, and she learned how to write essays with a dictionary open beside her laptop.

But sometimes, when she was especially exhausted, she still suddenly wanted to go home.

When Xiao Qiao pushed open the library doors, warm air rushed toward her.

She finally relaxed a little.

Even at nine at night, the library was still crowded. Exams were getting closer, and almost every floor was packed with students.

Xiao Qiao wandered around with her laptop before finally finding an empty seat in the corner.

The moment she sat down, she rested her head on the desk for a while.

She was too tired.

Someone nearby was quietly discussing homework, while keyboards clicked softly in the distance. The library was always like this-quiet, but never lonely.

She pulled out the unfinished rice ball from her bag, took a few bites, then opened her laptop and continued editing her slides.

Financial analysis. Charts. Data.

She stared at the screen for a long time, and the more she looked, the messier her thoughts became.

Her English wasn't terrible, but presentations always made her nervous.