rowan slid her backpack off of her shoulder and plopped down onto the first empty bench she could find. school was exhausting, but she going home didn’t offer much relief, either. everything around her seemed so new and unfamiliar. she was so lost in her own thoughts that when someone sat down next to her, she flinched, looking up quickly. “i---i don’t think the bus is comin’ for a while,” she said softly, hoping her presence hadn’t led the person to assume she was waiting for something. “i’m just sittin’ here cause’ i’m tired.”







