Monday morning arrived with a soft glow filtering through my curtains, casting a gentle light across my room. I stretched, feeling the familiar mix of excitement and nerves that came with the start of a new school year. But this time was different—senior year, and I wasn’t facing it alone. Rhys had texted the night before: “I’ll walk to your place and we can head to school together.” His words were a comfort.
Downstairs, the smell of breakfast greeted me. My mom smiled warmly, placing toast and eggs on the table. “Ready for your big day?” she asked. I nodded. “Rhys is coming over. We’re walking together.” My dad looked up from his paper, amused. “Rhys, huh? Sounds like a good friend.” I smiled. “Yeah, he’s pretty great.”
Outside, the morning air was crisp. Rhys arrived with a cheerful wa
