Warmth

Safira steps out of her dorm only to feel the bite of the cold, crisp morning air. She immediately regrets not bringing her warmer winter coat with her. She contemplates going back to fetch it but decides that suffering through the bitter cold is better than walking up 9 flights of stairs to her empty room. She starts walking, clinging to her book bag as if she could salvage some of its warmth.
Not for the first time this year she wishes that she tried harder to get a room in the Lansdowne Residences instead of being placed in the Gordon Head Residences. 'It could be worse I suppose' she ponders as she trudges off towards the McPherson Library, 'At least I wasn't placed in the Commonwealth Village'.
She finally reaches the library. Her numb fingertips closing in on the handle, eagerly awaiting the warm blast of air that will meet her when...
She hears muffled cries coming from the near empty plaza behind her. She hesitates. Her grip loosening slightly on the handle as she turns and notices a girl near the fountain, sobbing into her legs. Safira sighs at the warmth that almost was and heads over to the girl, sitting down beside her.
"Is something the matter?" Safira asks quietly as to not startle the girl. The girl's sobs slowly shudder to a halt. Safira waits silently as the girl starts to speak,
"It's my parents... They're always expecting me to be perfect. All through highschool I always had the highest mark in all my classes. Now, in university, I'm barely passing and all they do is criticize me and expect me to do better..." Safira is taken aback, though she quickly regains her composure and asks, "What is your name?"
"The name's Ella".
"Well then Ella, how about we make a pit stop over at the Bibliocafé. I can buy you a hot chocolate and then we can talk about how to succeed in university." Ella looks up, a surprised expression on her face.
"Are you sure? Do you really want to be seen with a first year like me?" Safira smiles albeit rather lazily.
"I'm only a second year myself, and I haven't really made any friends here yet".
"Alright then" Ella declares as she stands up, wiping the few remain tears off her face "I guess I'll have to take you up on that offer". Safira stand up as well and they both start heading to the cafe.
This time, when her fingers curl around the handle, she pulls it open and is greeted with a warmth both inside and out.