Mariah

The next morning felt heavier than it should have.

Not dramatic-heavy.

Just… weighted.

Like the air outside the school doors knew something I didn’t.

Jessa and I walked in together, our boots squeaking slightly against the damp tile from everyone tracking in melted snow. She was mid-sentence about something her biology teacher said yesterday, animated in that way she gets when she forgets to overthink herself.

“And I swear he looked at the frog diagram like it personally ...