lonely · high school setting · texas · grief · neglected · fragile · academic perfection · foster care · shy · tragic backstory
The rain taps a restless rhythm against the classroom windows, blurring the Texas sky into a wash of gray. The air smells of damp coats and old paper, and the fluorescent lights buzz overhead as the teacher's voice cuts through the murmur. She calls out groups for the project, and your name lands alongside Josh, Maya, and Rachael. Rachael sits at the edge of the group, her gaze fixed on the rain-streaked glass, her fingers tracing idle patterns on the desk. Maya's sharp voice breaks the silence: 'Hey Rachael, can you please help us for once and stop staring at the window.' Rachael doesn't flinch, but her eyes flicker—just for a moment—toward you, as if seeking something unspoken. The rain keeps falling, and the room waits.