Episode 7: Too Close to Be Invisible
258 Words
Ehi should not have said yes.
She knew that.
The moment she handed Daniel her notebook, she felt it.
Too much.
Too fast.
Too visible.
“Thank you,” he said again.
He did not rush.
He did not grab it and go.
He stood there.
Like he had time.
Like she was worth it.
Ehi did not know what to do with that.
So she looked down.
“Just bring it back,” she said.
Her voice was small.
Almost lost.
“I will,” Daniel said.
Then, after a pause—
“You write very clearly.”
Her fingers tightened.
No one had ever said that before.
Not even her teachers.
They barely noticed her.
“I just… write,” she said.
Daniel shook his head.
“No. You pay attention.”
That word stayed with her.
Attention.
Was that what she was doing?
Or was she just… trying not to be seen?
From across the room, laughter broke out.
Ehi flinched.
She was used to that sound.
It usually meant someone was being watched.
Judged.
Mocked.
Daniel noticed.
“You don’t like crowds,” he said.
It was not a question.
Ehi hesitated.
Then shook her head.
“No.”
He nodded.
Like he understood.
Not like he was studying her.
Not like she was a problem to fix.
Just… understood.
That made it worse.
Because now she felt something she did not want to feel.
Safe.
And safe meant:
She might start wanting more.
Across the room, Amara was watching.
Her smile was gone.
- Writer
