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3. The Skateboard Mirror

6/24/2026After UsDrama

I've been avoiding the world for three days. Charlie calls it isolating myself; I call it existing. The difference seems important. My room is still full of half-unpacked boxes: there are clothes on the chair, books piled on the desk, and an open suitcase in a corner that will probably stay there until Christmas.

1. The Empty Chair

6/24/2026After UsDrama

The empty chair is right in the center of the table and nobody looks at it. My mom talks about Providence as if the city were paying her to mention it, while my dad nods every now and then. Arthur Vence talks about offices, contracts, and opportunities, and Mrs. Vence moves the food around her plate without really taking a single bite. Nobody looks at the chair, but I can't stop doing it. Two months ago it belonged to Alice; now it's just an absence with a wooden backrest. "If everything goes well, we will be able to open the second office before December," my father says.

2. The First Domino

6/20/2026After UsDrama

Three days later, I remain convinced that my parents have completely lost their minds. The proof is right in front of me in the form of a red brick building by the harbor, while I try to pull a box that's way too heavy out of the trunk. My mother insists this is an opportunity for growth. My father insists it's the best possible solution. I insist that neither of them would be saying any of this if they were the ones about to live with Charlie Vence.

Snow and Ash

Chapter 1 - Snow

6/20/2026Snow & AshDrama

Amrita and I almost got to the crosswalks when I noticed a guy who was rushing a bit too quickly, just ahead of us. In a split second we saw a black sedan racing down the path only inches away from him, ignoring the fact that the roads were still wet. "Hey look out!" I yelled. Since I was closer to him, I jumped forward and yanked him back on my side. But clearly I didn't know my own strength because the next thing I knew, we fell to the ground and he'd landed on top of me. The car's tires screeched past us, with not a care in the world.