Monday did not ease in. It arrived sharp and unapologetic.
Cass felt it the moment she pulled into the parking lot. The air itself seemed charged, like the school was holding its breath. She turned off the engine and sat there for a second longer than necessary, hands resting on the steering wheel, grounding herself.
You’re fine, she told herself. You’ve survived worse.
She stepped out of the car and immediately spotted Lena waving dramatically from three rows down, already mid story with someone Cass didn’t recognize. Lena spotted her and beamed, abandoning the conversation without apology.
“Okay,” Lena said as they walked toward the building, “rule for today. No shrinking. No apologizing for existing. And absolutely no letting Marvin get inside your head.”
Cass smiled faintly. “You
