Akutu woke up with her head resting on the keyboard, the faint imprint of keys on her cheek. The soft glow of her laptop screen was the only light in the room. A quick glance at the time sent a jolt of panic through her—4:37 AM. The deadline for the group project was in just a few hours.
Her fingers ached from typing, her brain felt fried, but she wasn't done. She forced herself upright, blinking away exhaustion. This was university life—late nights, impossible workloads, and the constant pressure to push forward.
Jenny stirred in her bed, half-asleep. "You're still awake?"
Akutu sighed. "I had no choice. If I didn't do my part, we'd all fail."
Jenny sat up and stretched. "At this rate, you'll collapse before the semester ends."
Akutu smiled weakly. "Maybe."
"At least drink some water," Jenny said, tossing her a bottle.
Akutu took a sip, feeling a little revived. The clock was ticking, and the finish line was near. She had no time to complain.
The next morning, Akutu dragged herself to the lecture hall, her eyes burning from lack of sleep. The group project was submitted on time, but the effort had drained every ounce of energy from her body.
As the lecturer flipped through their work, Akutu held her breath. Finally, he looked up.
"This is impressive. Well-researched. Well-organized. Good job."
A wave of relief washed over her. The sleepless night had been worth it.
David, their group leader, clapped her on the back. "Nice work, Akutu. You really pulled through."
She forced a smile. He had barely contributed, but she was too tired to argue.
Jenny nudged her. "See? Hard work pays off."
Akutu exhaled. Yes, it did. But at what cost?
She had survived this challenge, but she knew there were many more ahead. University was a battlefield, and she had just won a small victory.
The pulleys of life were turning once again.