almost normal Sophia has never had a normal life. Ally and Lani never meant to get involved. After a mysterious encounter ties their paths together, the three girls form an unlikely bond rooted in trust, secrecy, and survival. Between school hallways, late-night conversations, and quiet moments of belonging, they begin to build something that feels almost like a family. But the past doesn’t stay buried forever—and when it starts to surface, the line between safe and dangerous begins to blur.

• Short story