There were days that felt normal—almost good—and somehow, those were the ones that hurt the most. Like her brain was trying to trick her into believing things were fine, just so the fall would hit harder later. Today was one of those days. The sky was soft and blue, and Jasmine was waiting outside the gate after school, holding two melting popsicles like a peace offering from the universe.
"I got your favorite. Cherry," Jasmine said with a grin.
Zariah took it. "You're a saint."
They walked slowly toward the corner store, the sun warm on their backs. For once, Zariah wasn't drowning in thoughts. Jasmine talked about a TikTok trend she wanted them to try, and Zariah actually laughed—like a real, from-the-belly laugh. She forgot, for just a second, that her insides were tangled up like old Christmas lights.
"You seem better today," Jasmine said, giving her a side glance.
Zariah froze for half a step but caught herself.
"Yeah… I guess I am."
They sat on the curb, talking and people-watching. Zariah found herself saying things she hadn't planned to. About how sometimes she couldn't sleep. How she gets distracted in class even when she tries so hard not to. About the buzzing in her brain that never really stops.
Jasmine listened. Quietly. No pity in her eyes.
Just… there.
But the peace cracked later that night when Zariah opened her phone and saw a DM she hadn't expected. It was from a blocked account. One she thought she had deleted months ago.
"You thought you could forget?"
No name. No picture. Just that one message.
Her hands went cold. Her stomach flipped. Her mind raced back to last summer, to things she promised herself she'd never think about again. She slammed her phone down and backed away from it like it had burned her.
The good day was over.
And suddenly, she was scared all over again.