The hallway buzzed with students rushing to class, their voices blending into a familiar hum. Rhys walked beside me, steady and reassuring. The scent of disinfectant and perfume lingered in the air as we approached the science lab, where Ms. Bayona stood like a sentinel—strict but fair. She nodded as we entered.
Inside, the lab was alive with clinking glassware and the hiss of Bunsen burners. Rhys and I took our usual spot at the back, setting up for the day’s experiment: reaction kinetics. The precision required was a welcome distraction from recent chaos.
As we worked, our conversation flowed easily—light banter, shared smiles. Midway through, I glanced at Rhys. “Thanks for sticking with me,” I said quietly.
“Anytime,” he replied. “We’ve got each other’s backs.”
The experiment passed
