Some journeys began with a single step.
Others began with someone quietly choosing to visit.
Tuesday morning arrived beneath a sky of pale autumn gold.
Westwood High carried on with its familiar rhythm.
Students crossed the courtyard laughing on their way to class.
The Hope Tree swayed gently beside the old oak tree.
The Reading Corner welcomed its earliest readers.
And the First Chapter Bench was already occupied by two freshmen comparing mystery novels.
Everything felt ordinary.
Exactly the way Noah liked it.
---
By lunchtime, the courtyard buzzed with conversation.
Noah, Lily, Emily, Ryan, Jason, Chloe, Madison, Ethan, Daniel, and Olivia gathered beneath the oak tree as usual.
Jason was balancing two sandwiches and somehow three cookies.
Ryan looked at him.
"How are you c
