Violet
I followed the trail of sunlight down the staircase Cassie had told me led toward the courtyard, my hand brushing along the cool stone railing for balance. Halfway down, I spotted movement below and slowed instinctively.
Cassie stood near the bottom of the steps, back turned to me, as though she were waiting for someone.
And for a moment, I didn’t recognize her at all.
Gone were the ripped black jeans she loved wearing, the oversized bomber jacket with mismatched buttons and little enamel pins attached to the collar, the scuffed sneakers that squeaked whenever she got too excited and ran ahead.
Gone was the sharp ponytail she usually twisted up in a hurry when she was in a mood to argue with someone or drag me into one of her impulsive decisions.
Instead she looked like she h
