Nika Noir: Dorm

Nika lit a cigarette she didn’t inhale, watched the smoke curl toward a water-stained ceiling. “Everyone does,” she said. “Most just decorate better.”

Her desk wasn’t for studying. It was for staring. A half-empty mug of cold black coffee sat beside a Zippo that hadn’t sparked in months. The window faced a brick wall — no view, just texture. She traced the mortar lines with her eyes at 2 a.m., imagining they were escape routes. nika noir dorm

Outside, someone laughed — bright, careless. Inside, the radiator hissed a secret. Nika closed her eyes and let the darkness settle over her like a coat that fit perfectly, even if it had never belonged to anyone else. Nika lit a cigarette she didn’t inhale, watched