Jessy’s pov :
Fluorescent exit signs glowed faintly at the edges, casting a reddish hue over the rows of seats. I sat wedged between Lucy and Naomi, the oversized popcorn bucket balanced precariously on my lap, its salty-buttery aroma mingling with the faint mustiness of the carpet. The screen flickered with vibrant colors, some hapless hero spilling coffee on his love interest, cueing canned laughter, but my mind was elsewhere, a coiled spring ready to unleash.
Lucy, with her wild red curls and obliviousness, popped kernels into her mouth, giggling at the slapstick. Naomi, on my other side, sat primly, her green eyes reflecting the screen's glow, one hand absentmindedly caressing that subtle pregnancy bump under her coat. Her vanilla scent hung in the air, sweet and vulnerable, a
