Not her Biological Father

he clinking of coffee cups. Sunlight filtered through wide windows, ca

lding Boundaries

s low beneath the subtle tint of her glasses. She wasn't supposed to be here today. She

was a

needed

ce. Emotio

ded to

e hall like silk cutting glass. "No one-no matter how close they are-has the right to touch your

chest t

cifically. But somehow, it felt personal. Like

way the burni

That M

e, was already in the shower, humming off-ke

head. She looked radiant as always, with peach-toned skin, naturally arched brows,

ed, forci

ying her arms as she noticed Jess hadn't

ed," Jess

tired for thr

dn't r

ng too hard. That was Claire's way

t the

herself seated beside two girls

ry whispered. "That last spe

auma responses. Like... how your body fre

swall

k and scribbled a line ju

ody remembers, even if yo

next to it. Then furi

: The Lig

ow he had shielded her from the afternoon sun with his notebook.

ed so hard he

crets with, like how she hated her smile because one of her

believ

od Hall eating ice cream. She had once fallen asleep on his shoulder whil

o

o longer felt s

at

xactly what she needed, words of strength, stories of resilience, women clapping for each other's growth. F

ates, reality tiptoed back into her ch

th her hair wrapped in a messy scarf and snacks scattered all arou

ging to her feet. "I was a

and smiled faintly. "I t

u'd be back by three

a panel. It

, really looked. "Ar

d. "Why wou

all week. Even when you smile, your eye

ddenly too tired to lie. "

l or... som

sitated

ed her purse and said, "Good. Because

nked. "O

you don't have to worry. Food, drink,

laugh. "You're bribi

and my emotional support bestie, and I

in her throat. "Clai

y pulling her into a hug. "Now get cha

low the skyline, bathing the sky in dusky pink and gold. String lights twinkled over

ries, chicken wraps, and Claire

heir classes, their annoying course reps, boys they both pretended not to li

normal

gh her mind again. That look in his eyes. The way he

smile and looked

d. "You went

a smile. "

not to push. "Then let's end the nigh

the walk-in parlor nearby. And for a lit

fast things

fety had started to f

nd sticky sweetness on their fingers. The walk back to the hostel was slow

awning before they r

e groaned, dragging her feet like a

insisted on extra to

aling-through-gluttony therapy. Now I've sacrific

d. "You're s

tote bag onto the floor before collapsing s

eamland,"

ng, reaching into her bag and blindly tossing somethi

looke

colat

e said with

leepily. "Eat it, don'

herself under her blanket, and within minutes, her

ttled around her like a second skin. Outside, the night was humming, distant traffi

onto her be

hone

her older si

u've been quiet la

stared at the screen, heart aching

sidered

e and I think he

elete

d, she

busy

replied

s. Can't wait to fly over

bit h

something was bothering her.

she didn't hold back. If Jess told h

htt

window blinked faintly

asleep, soft music play

inst the wall, knees drawn to

her chat

some

ete

d ag

fraid

elete

once

appened

e

passed.

wa

, placed it face-down on the des

fall in lov