By the ti the cab pulled up in front of my building, the sun was already cresting over the rooftops. My eyelids felt heavy, but my mind refused to shut off.
I dug out a crumpled twenty from my pocket and handed it to the driver. "Keep the change," I muttered, bowing my head.
Then I climbed out, slamd the door shut, and jogged up the worn concrete steps to my floor.
My apartnt felt weirdly hollow the second I opened the door.
It was too quiet inside. Like even the walls were holding their breath.
No cartoons blaring from the living room TV. No Alia singing off-key from the bathroom while brushing her teeth.
I dropped my keys into the little ceramic dish by the door and stood there for a mont, staring at the silent space around .
God. It was so silent.
I dropped my backpack beside the couch, rolled my aching shoulders, and wandered toward the small table by the window. A neat stack of unopened bills sat there, staring down like silent judges.
Ignore them.
I removed my sweaty work clothes and headed into the bathroom. I twisted the faucet, only cold water ran over my shoulders.
We’d run out of hot water again. And every bill was getting higher.
I stood there anyway, shivering, until my fingers were numb.
When I finally stepped out, I wrapped a towel around my waist and walked into the bedroom.
I opened the closet and stared at my reflection in the mirrored door.
Dark circles bruised the skin under my eyes. My eyes were bloodshot and rimd red. My lips were cracked from the cold and stress.
I looked like a ghost of myself.
Like soone who hadn’t slept in weeks.
Which, honestly, wasn’t far from the truth.
I inhaled deeply and turned away from the mirror.
I pulled out a small pile of clothes and other things for Alia.
A pair of navy leggings covered in tiny silver stars.
Her soft purple hoodie with the unicorn horn on the hood.
Her favorite lip balm that she insists on calling her "lipstick"
I folded them carefully, packed everything into my battered old backpack and checked my phone one last ti.
No new texts.
No missed calls.
I slung the bag over my shoulder, stepped into my sneakers, and gave the apartnt one final glance before locking the door behind making sure I hadn’t forgotten anything
When I finally stepped outside and locked the door, I noticed movent out of the corner of my eye.
Soone was peeking out from the apartnt next door.
"Good morning, Ash."
I turned and blinked.
It was Mrs. Diggs. My neighbor.
She was rolling out from her apartnt doorway in her wheelchair, in a bright green cardigan draped around her shoulders.
"Good morning, Mrs. Diggs," I said, bowing my head respectfully.
"Haven’t seen you in a while, child." She said squinting at through her thick glasses.
"How’s your mama doing?"
"She’s getting better," I said, forcing a small smile.
Mrs. Diggs gave a small nod. "Thank God for that. I believe the Lord has reasons for everything you’re going through, child." She held my hands.
"Sotis the path looks dark, but He’s already ahead of you, clearing the way. You know... You look burdened, like you’re carryin’ a storm in your chest. God sees it all, you know. He don’t leave His children in the dark forever. You need prayer, Ash. You should co by the church later. We’d pray the chains off you."
Mrs. Diggs had been trying to get to co to her church for weeks now. I’d kept politely refusing. I wasn’t much of a believer, but I didn’t want to hurt her feelings..
I just offered her a faint, polite smile.
"I’ll... think about it," I said, though we both knew I wouldn’t.
She sniffed, then lowered her voice. "Also, the landlord ca banging on your door the other day, hollering about your rent. Ranting and raving. I had to tell him you’ve been working late and beg him to give you so more ti. You better settle with him soon, Ash. You know how he gets. You don’t want your things thrown out in the street like poor Mrs. Vasquez last spring."
A spike of anxiety twisted in my gut.
"Thank you, Mrs. Diggs. I’ll settle it this week," I promised.
She nodded, wheeling back toward her door. "Aiit. Good luck, child. God sees your heart. And rember... if you ever wanna co, God’s always waitin’."
"Thank you, ma’am," I said, waving.
She waved back, her bracelets jingling softly, then disappeared into her apartnt.
I waved and turned away, gripping the straps of my backpack tighter.
Ti to go back.
I pulled out my phone again.
A new text blinked onto the screen.
June: Hey! Just dropped Alia off at school. Marcus and I are headed in. We’ve got a quiz first period, so make sure your butt’s in school by 9 a.m. Love you, dummy.
I checked the ti.
8:15 a.m.
Crap.
I ran out to the street and flagged down the first cab I saw.
"Blackwell High," I said breathlessly as I slid into the back seat.
The cab driver nodded without a word, flicking on his ter.
I spent the ride bouncing my knee, glancing at my phone every few seconds as buildings blurred past outside the window.
When we finally screeched to a stop in front of Blackwell, I paid cash at the driver and bolted out.
The minute I stepped through the front gates, I spotted Marcus and June waving at from across the courtyard, standing by their lockers.
I jogged over, panting a little.
"Dude, there’s a quiz this morning," Marcus blurted the second I arrived.
I groaned, slumping against the cool tal of the lockers. "Don’t remind . I just want to sleep."
June burst out laughing. "Yours is worse, Ash. You look like a zombie who’s been hit by a truck."
I rolled my eyes. "Thanks, Juney. Always here to boost my confidence."
We were still laughing when suddenly a wave of shrieks and squeals erupted down the hall.
Girls were squeaking, grabbing each other’s arms, and scattering like pigeons.
I turned...and felt my stomach do a back flip.
Strutting into the hall like they owned the damn building were the Glass Circle boys.
Top of the food chain. Untouchable.
Leading the way was Dominic, of course, in his black jacket and that grin, looking like he’d stepped out of a photoshoot.
Right behind him were the twins, Casper and Jasper, identical down to the way they shoved their hands in their pockets and smirked at the crowd.
Ian was there too, hair perfectly tousled, tossing a wink at so girls who almost fainted.
And at the back....like a ghost gliding through the chaos was the one who barely ever showed up to school:
Ren Whiteout.
Pale as snow, hair like white silk falling into his eyes. Skin almost luminous under the flickering hallway lights. Albino, with lashes so light they seed invisible.
June let out a strangled gasp beside .
"Oh. My. God," she whispered, clutching my sleeve. "Ren is back. God, he looks ethereal."
Marcus rolled his eyes.
"Great," he snapped. "Now that Ren’s back, June’s gonna be yapping about him non-stop. ’Ren this, Ren that’ hundred tis a day."
June gave him a playful shove. "Shut up, Marcus."
Marcus hissed his teeth and stomped off, muttering under his breath.
I barely heard him.
Because Dominic’s eyes had found mine in the crowd.
He smiled.
My heart scread like it wanted to leap out of my chest.
I tried to play it cool, quickly glancing away, pretending to scroll my phone. But my eyes kept darting back up, looking for another glimpse of him.
He didn’t text .
I stared at my phone screen, willing it to light up with a ssage. But nothing ca.
An odd, hollow ache settled in my chest, leaving feeling a little... heartbroken.
I stuffed my phone into my pocket, forcing a smile as June started peppering with questions about whether I thought Ren rembered her na.
But inside, my thoughts were tangled in Dominic’s smile...
...and the silence he’d left behind.
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