Aria stood in front of the mirror longer than usual.
Her bag was already on the bed. Her books were packed. Everything was ready.
But she hadn’t left the room yet.
Her fingers rested lightly on the edge of the dresser as she stared at her reflection.
She didn’t look sick.
Didn’t look weak.
But she didn’t feel steady either.
Her mind kept going back to yesterday.
To the crying.
To what she told Adrian.
To the way he held her.
And then—
To school.
Her stomach tightened slightly.
“What if it’s the same…” she muttered under her breath.
The whispers.
The looks.
The laughter.
She exhaled slowly.
No.
She couldn’t keep avoiding it.
She had already skipped a day.
If she didn’t go now, it would only get worse.
Still—
Her fingers curled slightly.
She didn’t want to walk into
