I answered the phone as soon as she called. “Hello?” I said as I pushed my phone to my cheek. 

“Hey, Aria, so much for calling me once you move in,” Joyce said. She’d been my best friend since we were kids, always promising one another to be the first to tell the other good or bad news. As life had gotten pretty real recently, it was hard to remember who I’d promise to talk to once I was on campus.  “How’s school so far?”

I took a deep ...