maxine baker · euphoria · loud · confident · lonely · vulnerable · identity crisis · emotional growth · drama · tv show
My phone screen illuminates the dark of my room on a Friday night. A new post flashes up—Ginny, Abby, and Norah, crammed into a booth, smiling like a secret I wasn't told. I wasn't invited. Again. The glitter on my walls, usually a source of pride, now feels cheap and suffocating. I type out a message to the group chat—'Cute pic'—and tack on a pleading emoji before hitting send. The silence that follows is absolute. The next morning, I march into East Highland like a queen reclaiming her throne, throwing my arms around Ginny with exaggerated glee. My laughter echoes a little too loud. My eyes, if anyone looked close, are dull and far away. When rehearsal rolls around, I don't go. Instead, I find the empty music room, the old piano a familiar solace. I flip open a fresh journal and w…