The following day began with the usual morning rush, but for Lila, everything felt different. She moved through her routine with a new sense of purpose, her thoughts anchored by the conversation she had shared with Kade. It was strange, this feeling of anticipation that hummed quietly beneath her skin. Every sound, every movement in her home seemed sharper, more immediate, and somehow more meaningful. Even the aroma of her mother’s cooking carried a sense of calm reassurance, reminding her that the world outside could be navigated with courage.
At school, the hallways seemed both familiar and foreign. Students passed by, laughing and arguing, but Lila barely noticed them. Her focus was on Kade, on the way he moved through the crowd as if he owned the space, yet remained careful not to dra
