returning to school is strange and surreal
I feel fourteen again
young and scared
even though I’m not that little kid anymore
I have lunch with Mel
who peppers me with questions about Ben
and Angie even comes over to join us
I’m still counting how many bites of food she puts in her mouth
but she seems more herself
maybe a little paler, a little sadder
Mel tells us that she thinks she should break up with Ryan
because he’s not being nice enough
and with this I agree
It feels normal

maybe things will get better from here