The morning began with rain, thin, undecided, like a curtain that didn't know whether to close or open. Lina stood under the overhanging roof in front of the school, while drops fell from the gutter into the puddle below. Each splash into the water sounded like a beat driving her heart forward against her will.
She had barely slept. She kept waking up with memories of the shadow under the bridge, of Alaric's gaze, of the man with the folder. Just today, he had said. But today was now. Today had already arrived.
When she entered the assembly hall, Giulia was already there. She sat alone by the window, the purple streak of hair hanging across her face, her hood pulled low over her forehead. Normally, she would laugh too loudly, play with words as if they were both knives and candies at once. Not today.
Lina sat down beside her without saying anything. For a moment they were silent, hearing only the voices of others, which were too loud not to be talking about them.
