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

eeded

ce. Emotio

ded to

ross the hall . "No one-no matter how close they are-has the right to touch your body wit

chest t

cifically. But somehow, it felt personal. Like

way the burni

That M

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

. She looked radiant as always, with peach-toned skin, naturally arched brows, and her s

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

t Camp

ar had been exactly what she needed, words of strength, stories of resilience, women clapping

ates, reality tiptoed back into her ch

ross-legged on the bed with her hair wrap

aid, springing to her feet. "I

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

ing her into a hug. "Now get changed, Queen.

just dipped below the skyline. String lights twinkled overhead, and th

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. "

if deciding not to push

the walk-in parlor nearby. And for a lit

in their hands

and lazy, the kind of pace that only

awning before they r

e groaned, dragging her feet like a

insisted on extra to

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

You're so drama

tote bag onto the floor before collapsing s

eamland,"

ng, reaching into her bag and blindly tossing somethi

looke

colat

e said with

pily. "Eat it, No crying

ed herself under her blanket, and within minutes

iet settled around her. Outside, the night was humming, distant traffic, a do

onto her be

hone

her older si

n quiet lately. Is School

right away. She st

sidered

ing. It frightened me. I do

le

ped: "Busy wit

eplied i

g soon-next weekend maybe? I Miss yo

bit h

something was bothering her

d she

you

Andre's chat.

: Why did

ete

d ag

appene

ete

once

ppened

e

. Second

whispering: ""What if

again- but i

ous nu

nd a curvy girl. Their lips locked together having an

Hands shook so hard th

t this?

ate bar hi

he said to herself "Tomorrow