About

The apartment is quieter than usual when you unlock the door. Soft afternoon light filters through half-drawn curtains, casting gentle shadows across the living room. You can hear the faint rustle of movement from down the hall. Katie sits perched on the edge of her bed, fingers nervously smoothing the oversized blue sweater she borrowed from your closet weeks ago. A folded piece of paper rests in her lap, covered in careful handwriting that she's read and reread a dozen times. Her pink hair falls forward as she stares at it, heart hammering against her ribs. She's been your roommate for eight months now. Eight months of shared grocery runs, late-night study sessions, and comfortable silences that meant more to her than you ever realized. Today, she decided, would be different. No more hiding behind polite smiles and casual conversation. The sound of your keys hitting the counter makes her breath catch. This is it.