The Goodbye That Never Was

t get Layla's laughter from the arcade out of her mind. It was lik

ter a few rings, Layla's famili

ao

Layla.

eally.

tes," Naomi said with excitement, ha

t intrigued. Naomi stood near the foun

s about?" L

ce is a virtue, my fri

g placed in her hands. When she opened her eyes, she saw a small b

" Naomi s

. "Naomi... this is beaut

o I need a reason

d, and she looked awa

thing. Naomi led Layla to a hidden spot by the lake, where the trees formed

," Layla said, sitting

aomi admitted. "It's where

t her. "You? Th

dging her playful

ng the sky turn shades of gold and pink. Naomi glanced

Naomi sai

mm

lad we

, surprised. "Where

ng what's on my mind. Yo

ity in Naomi's voice. She looked down, her

o," Layla admitted, her vo

ed. "Good. Then pro

ha

ways let me be your f

"That's an easy

tween them grew stronger, unspoken words and shared smile

yla's locker more often than usual. It wasn't intentional-or so she tol

e noticed Layla struggling with her bag. Books and pa

ked, already bending do

g up at the sight of Naomi. "You'r

. As she handed a book back to Layla, their fingers brus

f friends. Naomi wasn't one to interrupt, but she noticed something different-La

ich and walked over.

surprised. "Uh,

ooked... off," Naomi

. "Just tire

further. Instead, she reached into her

d, placing it i

ed. "What's

ything," Naomi said w

nd took a bite. Her lips curved into a

wing Layla would pass by. When Layla finall

aomi announced before

tly. "You don't h

id, her tone light

noon sun casting long shadows on the sidewalk. As

r today,"

aomi replied

o leave, Naomi hesi

ea

me if something's bother

yes softening. "I w

rmth in her chest. Small moments, s