Anne blushed slightly, a shy smile appearing on her lips. "Well, actually..."

Before she could finish the sentence, the two friends' attention was drawn to a buzz coming from the entrance of the cafe. A group of students entered, chatting animatedly and laughing loudly. In the center of the group was the new department assistant, the so-called "hottie" from Harvard.

Maxine watched the man from afar, her eyes scanning his tall, slender figure, his tousled brown hair, and his charming smile. He seemed to be the kind of person who attracted attention wherever he went, a magnet for female attention.

"Wow, he really is handsome," Anne commented, her eyes shining. "I think I'll have to stop by the history department more often."

Maxine laughed, shaking her head. "Go ahead, Anne. But don't forget to tell me all the details later."

As they watched the new assistant walk away, Maxine felt a pang of curiosity. Who was that man?

"Well, I've been talking to a guy named Chris lately. He's really nice, but I don't know if I'm ready for a serious relationship right now."

Maxine smiled, encouraging her. "Don't rush it, Anne. Love appears when we least expect it."

The two continued to chat, sharing stories and giving advice to each other. When it was time to go to class, both felt lighter and more cheerful.

That night, Maxine lay in bed, thinking about the conversation with Anne. She realized that she needed to focus on enjoying the moment and let go of her worries. She decided to take a break from writing and dedicate herself to other activities that gave her pleasure.

As the days passed, Maxine began to feel better. The nightmares still visited her occasionally, but she learned to face them as part of her creative process. She began to write about her experiences, transforming her fears into art.