Nineteen ✨

Nicole💜

The first week of exams had finally come to an end, and I felt a strange sense of relief wash over me. Four exams down—Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics, and English—each one more exhausting than the last. But with each exam I finished, it felt like I was shedding a layer of stress. Now, only two more remained: History on Monday and Italian on Thursday. The thought of those still lingering made me feel a bit anxious, but at least I had time to prepare.

As I sat at my desk in my room, the warm afternoon light streaming through the window, I flipped through my notes for History. I always found it fascinating—learning about the past, how societies grew, and the events that shaped the world we live in. But as much as I enjoyed it, the sheer amount of information I had to memorize was overwhelming. I sighed, setting my notes aside for a moment and stretching my arms above my head.

"Okay, Nicole, focus," I muttered to myself, picking up my highlighter and going over the important dates in bold on my paper.

The weekend stretched ahead of me, giving me plenty of time to go through everything. I had my study plan laid out, with chunks of time dedicated to each topic. I’d start with the Renaissance period and work my way through to the modern era, making sure to cover key events like the French Revolution, World War I, and the Industrial Revolution.

By Saturday afternoon, I had my rhythm down. I sat cross-legged on my bed, my History textbook open in front of me, a notebook to my side filled with scribbled notes and important facts. I read over the material, going through my flashcards for the dates and names I struggled to remember. The Battle of Hastings? 1066. The signing of the Treaty of Versailles? 1919. It was a lot to take in, but I knew I had to stay focused. My History teacher always said the key to success in his exams was to understand the cause and effect of events, not just memorize facts.

I decided to take a short break and made my way downstairs. The house was quiet, with Alex in his room working on his own studies. Daisy was in the kitchen, humming a soft tune as she cleaned up.

"Nicole, how’s the studying going?" she asked when she noticed me enter.

"It’s going well," I replied with a smile, grateful for the short break. "A lot to cover, but I’m getting through it."

Daisy gave me a warm smile, drying her hands on a towel. "I’m sure you’ll do great, dear. You’ve always been so hardworking."

"Thanks, Daisy," I said, feeling a little lighter. I grabbed a snack from the counter, a couple of fresh strawberries, and headed back to my room, ready to dive back into my study session.

By the time Sunday afternoon rolled around, I felt confident about my History exam. I’d gone through all the major topics, reviewed my notes, and even did a couple of practice questions. I knew I’d done everything I could to prepare, and that gave me some peace of mind.

Now, with History out of the way, I had more time to focus on Italian. That exam wasn’t until Thursday, which meant I could pace myself a little more and take a breather. Italian was one of my favorite subjects, so I didn’t feel as much pressure. I enjoyed learning the language, and it came to me more naturally than some of my other subjects.

Monday arrived quicker than expected, and before I knew it, I was sitting in the exam hall, my History paper in front of me. The questions weren’t easy, but they were fair. I read through them carefully, answering each one with the knowledge I’d built up over the weekend. As I filled out the last answer, a sense of relief washed over me. One more exam down, just one more to go.

When I got home that afternoon, Alex was waiting for me, his eyes lighting up when he saw me. "How’d it go?" he asked, wrapping his arms around me in a comforting hug.

I leaned into him, feeling the tension in my shoulders start to fade. "I think it went well," I said, smiling up at him. "All that studying paid off."

He chuckled softly, pressing a kiss to the top of my head. "I knew you’d do great. Now just one more, right?"

"Yep," I replied, feeling lighter now that History was behind me. "Italian on Thursday."

"You’ve got this," he said confidently, giving me another squeeze before letting go. "But for now, how about we take a break?"

We spent the rest of the evening relaxing, watching a movie together and eating popcorn. It was nice to have a moment of peace after all the stress of the past week. But by the time Tuesday morning came, I was ready to get back to work, this time focusing on my Italian exam.

I spent the next few days going over vocabulary, practicing my grammar, and speaking out loud to myself in Italian. I knew it was a bit silly, but hearing the words helped them stick in my memory. I’d walk around the house, muttering phrases to myself, much to Alex’s amusement. He’d catch me in the kitchen, saying, "Mi chiamo Nicole" or "Dov’è la biblioteca?" and he’d grin at me, shaking his head.

"You’re going to ace that exam," he’d say, and I’d just laugh, feeling more confident as the days went by.

By Wednesday night, I felt ready. I’d reviewed all my notes, gone through practice exercises, and even watched a few Italian movies to help immerse myself in the language. When I went to bed that night, I knew I’d done everything I could to prepare. Now, all that was left was to go in on Thursday and give it my best.

As I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, I felt a sense of calm wash over me. The exams had been tough, but I’d made it through most of them. Just one more to go, and then it would all be over. I closed my eyes, a small smile playing on my lips as I drifted off to sleep, ready to face the last challenge ahead.

The day of my Italian exam finally arrived. I woke up feeling a mix of nervousness and excitement, knowing this would be my last exam of the semester. After today, I’d be free, and all the late nights and hours spent studying would finally be behind me. I got ready, packed my bag, and took a deep breath as I headed out.

The exam hall was buzzing with quiet murmurs as everyone settled into their seats. I glanced around, spotting a few classmates who gave me encouraging smiles. Once the examiner handed out the papers, the room fell silent. I took a deep breath, glanced at the questions, and felt a wave of relief. They were challenging, but nothing I hadn’t prepared for. I was grateful for all those hours spent practicing Italian phrases, memorizing vocabulary, and brushing up on grammar.

The first section was on grammar. I read each question carefully, making sure I understood what was being asked. Verbs, conjugations, sentence structure—it was all there. I moved slowly and methodically through the questions, recalling the rules I’d memorized. I could almost hear myself repeating phrases I’d practiced around the house, which helped keep me calm and focused.

The next section was vocabulary, and I felt a surge of confidence. Italian words and phrases filled my mind as I matched meanings and wrote out definitions. Every time I saw a word I’d practiced, I felt a small rush of satisfaction. There were a few tricky words, but I took my time, recalling the conversations I’d had with Alex in my head as I reviewed flashcards.

Then came the comprehension section. The passage was about Italian culture—specifically, the different festivals celebrated throughout the country. I read it twice, absorbing every detail, then moved on to the questions. I remembered my teacher’s advice to go beyond simply translating the words and to try to understand the passage’s overall meaning. I took notes, answered each question, and checked my answers for accuracy.

Finally, I reached the last part of the exam: writing. The prompt asked me to write about a memorable event and describe it in Italian. I smiled, deciding to write about the time Alex and I watched an Italian film marathon. I described the warmth of the evening, the way we shared laughter and snacks, and how much I’d enjoyed immersing myself in the language and culture. I tried to make my writing flow naturally, paying close attention to sentence structure and choosing words that I felt captured the moment.

Time flew by as I wrote, and soon, the examiner called for us to put down our pens. I took a deep breath, relieved it was finally over. I handed in my paper, walked out of the exam hall, and felt the weight of all my exams lift off my shoulders. I’d done it. I was finally done.

When I got home, Alex was waiting for me by the door, his face lighting up with a proud smile. "How did it go, Nicole?"

I grinned, still processing the feeling of freedom. "It went really well. I think I nailed it."

He wrapped me in a tight hug, and I leaned into him, feeling the warmth of his embrace. "I knew you’d do amazing," he murmured, pressing a soft kiss to my forehead.

“Now that you’re officially done with exams, I think it’s time we celebrate.” His eyes sparkled with excitement, and he grabbed his keys.

We drove to a cozy restaurant that Alex had chosen, one he knew I’d been wanting to try for months. The restaurant was charming, with soft lights and a rustic ambiance that made me feel like I’d stepped into a food paradise. The scent of fresh herbs and garlic filled the air as we sat down at a table by the window.

Alex handed me the menu, and I couldn’t help but smile. "This is perfect," I said, glancing up at him.

He grinned. "Only the best for you, Nicole. You earned it."

We ordered our meals, and as we waited, Alex and I chatted about the highlights of my exams, the relief I felt now that they were over, and the plans I had for the break. When our food arrived, I took a bite of my pasta, savoring the rich flavors. Each bite was a celebration, a reminder of all the hard work I’d put in and the joy of being done.

"To the end of exams and the start of your well-deserved break," Alex said, raising his glass in a toast.

I clinked my glass with his, feeling a surge of happiness and gratitude. "And to you, Alex, for always supporting me."

As the night went on, we laughed, shared stories, and enjoyed the delicious food. By the time dessert arrived, I felt a warm glow of contentment. Being here with Alex, celebrating the end of my exams, made me realize how lucky I was to have someone who cared about me so deeply.

As we left the restaurant and headed home, I felt a deep sense of peace. The stress of the past weeks had finally melted away, and all that remained was the happiness of having accomplished my goals and the excitement of a relaxing break ahead. Alex wrapped his arm around me as we walked, and I leaned into him, grateful for every moment.