Khrisana hadn't left her room in days. The silence in her house was heavy too heavy and the sun spilling through the blinds felt more like an accusation than comfort. Her phone buzzed endlessly on the dresser, screen lighting up with names she didn't have the energy to respond to: Amara 💜, Jaylen 🌀, Mom. She didn't even cry anymore. Just lay curled beneath the sheets, staring at the wall like it would tell her what to do next. She felt humiliated, raw. What her aunt said had scraped open wounds she wasn't even ready to name, much less talk about. The woman's words haunted her, each one sharper than the last: "Lying girl." "Daddy would never." "Blaming everyone but herself." Khrisana could still hear her mom trying to argue, trying to defend her, but her voice had sounded so...small.

Saturday turned into Monday. Then Tuesday. School came and went without her. Her mom had knocked a few times, but she didn't push. She knew. Maybe she didn't know what it felt like exactly, but she knew enough to give her space. And Khrisana was grateful grateful and lost. Then came the knock she wasn't ready for. Loss. Loss. Loss. "Khrisana?" Amara's voice. Soft. Nervous. "It's me... it's us. Jaylen's here too." Khrisana froze. She sat up slowly, eyes wide. They came? Jaylen knocked next. "We've been texting you like crazy. You okay?" She panicked, heart slamming. She glanced at the mirror and winced—hair a mess, shirt wrinkled, dark circles under her eyes. She couldn't let them see her like this. She stumbled out of bed and went straight to the door.

"Give me five minutes," she called, voice hoarse from not speaking. "Please just wait for me downstairs." There was a pause. Then Amara replied gently, "Okay. We'll wait." Khrisana rushed into the shared bathroom, washed her face, brushed her teeth, ran fingers through her hair with trembling hands. She pulled on clean clothes, something soft and simple. She didn't even know what she'd say. When she came down, they were sitting on the worn living room couch, quiet. Her mom had let them in and disappeared to give them space. Jaylen stood up when he saw her. "You look... better than we expected." Amara hit him lightly. "He means we're just glad to see you." Khrisana managed a laugh. The first in days.

She didn't say much at first. Just sat between them. Their presence did something no text message could. It reminded her she wasn't completely alone. Amara pulled her into a side hug. Jaylen cracked a dumb joke that made her smile. They didn't force her to talk. Just sat there with her. And for the first time in days, Khrisana exhaled