Celeste’s POVSchool pickup had never been my favorite part of the day because the chaos always reminded me of how fragile everything was.Little bodies running in every direction, backpacks bouncing, parents trying to herd their offspring toward cars, buses, gates. Noise everywhere, unfiltered and relentless.But Molly always grounded me.She always stepped out of her classroom quietly, like a small beam of dusk light slipping into the world.Except today, when she emerged slower than usual, the strap of her backpack sliding off her shoulder, her eyes glued to the ground.“Molly?” I called softly.She flinched at the sound of her name. And that, more than anything, made something cold unfurl behind my ribs.She walked to me with her head down, dark waves covering half her face. When she reached me, I brushed the hair back automatically, searching her expression, but her gaze skittered away.“Long day?” I asked.She shrugged, then moved as if to adjust her backpack again. That’s when I
Last Updated : 2025-12-10 Read more