Allie stood silent, her thoughts a whirlpool of emotions. Cher’s voice, soft yet sharp, pierced the quiet:
"Do you remember, Allie? Back then, you were like a white swan to me. Everyone adored you—boys, girls, teachers—it didn’t matter. You were perfect. And I was nothing but a shadow. But when I stood beside you, I felt like I could shine, too."
Allie’s lips tightened. "But you never really saw me as a friend, did you?"
Cher shook her head, a fleeting vulnerability flashing in her eyes. "No, Allie, that’s not true. You were my best friend.
Do you remember the wishing box we buried? Under the magnolia tree?"
The words hit Allie like a wave. Of course, she remembered. It was during their last year of middle school—a time when innocence hadn’t yet soured. They’d buried a tiny box benea
