Tension

Skylar's POV

I woke up this morning with what felt like a bone lodged in my throat. The conversation from yesterday still lingered in my mind, like that stubborn coffee stain that everyone sees but no one can remove. Every moment of our conversation replayed in my head, amplifying my discomfort.

I wished the ground would open up and swallow me, but I knew the moon goddess wouldn’t grant such a request. The morning sun felt too bright and too indifferent to my misery.

Dragging myself out of bed, I hurried through my morning routine, feeling a knot of anxiety in my stomach. The bus ride to school was a blur of uncomfortable faces and unsettling stares. Wedged between an elderly lady who muttered to herself and a rebellious teen absorbed in her phone, I felt like an outsider in my own life.

The relief I felt when the bus finally reached the school gate was almost overwhelming. As I stepped off, I was met with a few curious glances, which I carefully avoided. I was becoming adept at manag