*Caterina*

“Caterina, come down, dinner is almost ready!” my mother called out.

“I’m coming, Mom!” I shouted back.

I picked myself off my bed and tucked my phone into the back pocket of my jeans and began my descent down the stairs. I was only a day into my Thanksgiving break and already I was feeling the effects from being back home again. I hadn’t expected to feel so normal about it all.

The weight of school, although temporary, was ...