As an ordinary genius

The campus buzzed with life as spring approached. The fresh energy of students discussing upcoming projects and summer plans filled the air. But for Ethan, the atmosphere felt suffocating. Every time he stepped into the engineering building, every time he passed the library, and every time he spotted Felicity across the quad, he was reminded of the growing chasm between them.

He needed space.

One evening, sitting in the quiet of his dorm room, Ethan made up his mind: he'd find an internship for the summer and move off campus early. It wasn't just about avoiding Felicity; it was about finding something of his own, something that made him feel like he belonged.

The next day, Ethan spent hours scouring job boards and career websites.

"Looking for internships already?" Raj asked, glancing over Ethan's shoulder.

"Yeah," Ethan replied without looking up.

"Isn't it a bit early? Most people wait until next semester."

"Just want to get a head start," Ethan said, keeping his tone neutral.

Raj shrugged and walked away, but Ethan could feel the unspoken questions lingering in the air.

After days of searching, Ethan finally found a posting that caught his attention:

"Internship Opportunity: Junior Engineer – Applied Solutions Robotics"

A mid-sized robotics company specializing in automated systems. Ideal for students seeking hands-on experience in hardware and software integration.

It wasn't a flashy position, but it sounded promising. Ethan submitted his application that evening, tailoring his resume and cover letter to highlight the projects he had worked on over the past year.

Two weeks later, he got the email.

Subject: "Internship Offer – Applied Solutions Robotics"

Body: "Dear Ethan, we are pleased to offer you a summer internship at our company..."

Ethan read the email three times, his heart pounding. He had done it.

Ethan waited until the weekend to tell his roommates about the internship.

"An internship? That's awesome!" Mike said, clapping him on the back.

"Congrats, man," Liam said. "Where's it at?"

"Applied Solutions Robotics. It's about two hours away," Ethan said.

"Wait, two hours?" Raj said, frowning. "So you're moving out?"

"Yeah, they want me to start early, so I'll be leaving next month," Ethan replied.

The room went quiet for a moment.

"Does this have anything to do with… you know, avoiding someone?" Raj asked carefully.

"No," Ethan said quickly, a little too quickly. "It's just a great opportunity. I can't pass it up."

Raj gave him a long look but didn't push further.

As Ethan packed his things, he felt a mix of excitement and guilt. Leaving campus felt like the right decision, but he couldn't shake the thought of Felicity's reaction when she realized he was gone.

"Are you going to tell her?" Mike asked one evening as they helped Ethan load boxes into his car.

"Tell who?" Ethan asked, though he knew exactly what Mike meant.

"You know who," Mike said. "Felicity."

Ethan shook his head. "She doesn't need to know. It's not like we're that close."

Mike raised an eyebrow but didn't argue.

The day before Ethan was set to leave, he bumped into Felicity outside the library.

"Ethan!" she said, smiling. "Haven't seen you in forever. Where've you been hiding?"

"Just… busy," he said, forcing a smile.

"Busy enough to disappear completely?" she teased, though there was a hint of hurt in her voice.

"Yeah, something like that," he said, avoiding her eyes.

"Well, don't be a stranger," she said. "And let me know if you want to grab coffee or something."

Ethan nodded but said nothing. As she walked away, he felt a pang of regret.

Ethan's car was packed, and the dorm room was empty. He took one last look around before closing the door behind him.

As he drove away from campus, the weight on his chest began to lift. The internship was a fresh start—a chance to focus on himself without the constant reminders of what he wasn't.

The road stretched out before him, and for the first time in a long time, Ethan felt like he was heading in the right direction.