(Avery)
The next few days were slow but kind of nice. I didn’t have to think about classes or people staring at me. I didn’t have to hear whispers in the hallways or see the looks some students gave me when they thought I wasn’t watching. It was quiet here at home, and I liked that.
Mom worked from the kitchen most days with the staff, moving between her laptop and her coffee. Dad came home earlier than usual just to check on me. He always asked if I needed anything, even though I kept saying no.
Caleb was around too, though not as much as Mom and Dad. He had classes and soccer practice, but every time he came home, he’d stop by my room first. Sometimes he’d just stand in the doorway with a grin and say, “Still alive, sis?” Other times, he’d bring snacks or his game controller and say I
