Cass Winfield woke on Saturday feeling like the world had conspired against her. The humiliation from school still lingered like a shadow, wrapping around her chest and pressing down her chest. Her stomach churned with anxiety, and the constant tension she carried made her muscles ache.
Home was no escape. As soon as she opened the front door, the chaos began. Her mother was in full critique mode, pacing the kitchen with arms crossed, phone glued to her hand.
“Cass, seriously. Have you seen the group chat?” her mom demanded, voice sharp. “Your cousins, your aunts, even Mrs. Penrose from the grocery store you’re trending. People are talking about the school incident. Do you even know how embarrassing this is?”
Cass blinked at her, startled. “I… I don’t care about that,” she said, voice t
