Zee.
I woke up to the sound of my phone ringing. My body stirred slowly as I reached for my bag beside the bed and fished out the phone with groggy fingers. The screen lit up with my dad's name. My heart skipped.
“Hello, Daddy,” I said, my voice still thick with sleep.
“Zariah, where are you?” His voice carried that familiar mix of concern and sternness I’d grown up with.
“I… I’m at a friend’s house,” I said, trying to sound casual.
“Aren’t you coming home?”
“Yeah, I will. After school. I was just getting ready to go.” I rubbed my eyes, trying to make sense of my surroundings.
“School? Zariah, it’s almost 11 p.m. And you’re talking about school? Are you alright?” His voice grew sharper, now laced with disbelief and worry.
Wait, 11 p.m.? That couldn’t be right. I blinked hard, glan
