FAILURE IS ESSENTIAL. Love is all about trial and error.

But it's 10 p.m. and Adarika can't stop rewinding the events of today in her mind. It's stupid. The more she thinks about them, the further that unalloyed shame sinks into her.

She turns to her side with a frustrated huff and gazes at the buildings and roads that light up the night view outside her window. Initially, she had drawn up the curtains to open a small gap through the window and allow the brisk breeze to seep into her room, entangling itself through her hair and curled-up figure beneath a duvet.

But now, she simply stares out and lets the lights of the busy environment blur her vision until all she sees is darkness.