Sumaya walked slowly toward the bus stop, her steps almost uncertain, as if each one required more effort than the last.
The distance wasn't far, just a few blocks, but with every reluctant step, it seemed to stretch even farther. Her feet dragged against the pavement, her body resisting what her mind knew was inevitable. The thought of facing Olivia coiled tightly in her stomach, a mix of dread and uncertainty. Would Olivia be cold? Dismissive? Or worse, see her as a freak, just like Ananda did? The questions tangled in her thoughts, making her chest tighten as she fought the urge to turn back.
Olivia was the only friend she had, the only person who had ever truly seen her. With Olivia, she didn't have to pretend or shrink herself into something smaller. She didn't have to explain the quiet parts of herself; Olivia just understood. And if she lost that now, after telling her the truth… Sumaya wasn't sure how she'd handle it.
