mber the day

th in senior school then, and I was already used to minding my business. Walk to class, sit by the

t when someone's getting embarrassed. I wasn't going to get involved. I wasn't that type of girl. But

ough and saw

girls stood around her, laughing like they had just won a prize. One of them, Sandra-I s

ore I even thought it throu

to me like I'd

. "Mind your b

nd helped Chloe gather her books. "Let them t

something in them felt familiar. Like loneliness. Lik

s the b

nd share music playlists. We weren't the loudest in school, but we h

ayal never com

-

f glass sna

around the cup. My nails tapped lightly against the rim, and I sighed, swal

ic and murmurs. There were people laughing behind me. I h

as going to a funeral-well, not a real one

e still walked the earth. And Chloe? She had buri

bartender for

t taken?" a

ned s

as tucked casually, sleeves rolled to the elbows. There was

m, then at the empty seat across from

could sit?" I

row raised. "Didn't think I

ed. "Ty

he sa

ring a hand like we were at

e it was diseased, then

ond longer, then dropped it. His s

're

your face. I thought ma

slowly. "You thi

dn't

ger to come save the day? That's not how this works. Yo

gan, hands ra

r, nurse, secretary, God knows what else. Why me? Why not the blonde two seats dow

y. I didn't mean

"You think you're doing something noble by sitting here? You're no

ly. "Alright.

't say a word. Didn't shift in hi

ilence wasn't peaceful

fingers curling

tered, and immediately

Just turned his head

he inside of my cheek. "Jas

, like it hadn't been enou

eople usually did. No dramatic

heavy," he

r. "And then I lost my husband too. N

like poison

e like he saw right

ough," he murmured. "

en I smirke

music in the background. He told me about how he liked photography. How he once lived in It

d the usual t

ot

talk," I said fl

lowed.

kay? Isn't that what this is about? You followed me out,

icker with excitement or shame or

not why I followed you. I enjo

lin

lled out a small white card, a

o talk. Or not talk

n he wa

gging. No smooth li

my hand. For a second, I almo

mo