I thought I wa

g the breeze just so. That easy grace like she kne

ile fa

the far edge of the field, arms folded across her ches

s her own p

ard and looked

p in the rhythm of the match, calling out play

notice her, I

, that prayer

e kind of cheer that turned heads. My fingers fiddled in my lap, unconsciously wringing themselves as the

fore Damian looked

as the mome

s s

smile he'd given m

ow, it

n around me, trapping every breath in my chest. My stomach sank like a ston

e'd smile lik

crush on... Damian wouldn't stop talking about her to

e. That he'd grow out of it the way boys d

n and again between plays, it didn't feel like a phase. It felt

al whist

game

ins and water bottles. Damian jogged toward the edge of the field, his shirt clinging to him

d up,righ

art st

mine. For that familiar grin.

didn't l

d straigh

he start

.run

to Ma

uice. He hadn't even finished them. Half a cookie lay broken in the container. The juice bot

hest

d at it for a second too long, then quietly set

't said

't even

d my ear, I turned awa

sh. I didn't

hoes weren't really touching the

ked slowly enou

e the space I'd left behi

umn,

sion, the way he'd jog up to me, apologize, laugh

as the fading soun

ed the s

l not

es, nails digging into my palms as I st

ce, I lo

st

t was my

e there

am

next

ing smile. And then, as if the universe hadn't punished

m reach up

ke something in me, he tucked a

ght, then left

king furiously as the image

was ou

dy sessions or when the wind messed it up during our walks. It wasn't even ro

s doing it for

e. Not on the same path we used to race down when we were younger. Not on

N

t h

g up at the blue, indifferent sky. The sun

e home, though I c

returned, watering the potted plants l

inking. "Autumn? Y

tely and wal

kay?" she asked,

aid. "I'm ju

s. Moms never do

om, dropped onto the bed,

apped around me

l... I ke

ne to buzz with a text t

it di