Anastasia's Pov

　　Ryan, I hadn't seen him since the first night, and I felt both relieved and sad about it. I missed his company, and the memory of our conversation echoed in my mind from time to time, like a sweet, persistent echo. This made a feeling of longing appear that I didn't want to feel, especially with the challenge approaching so soon. The loneliness, mixed with anxiety, often made time drag when I wasn't focused on my studies. Every minute felt like an eternity ...