Dead Inside & Glowing

The hat was pulled low, shadowing eyes that hadn't slept since Wednesday. Kai felt like a straight-up zombie, functioning on caffeine vibes and three hours of total rest. Junior year finals week was hitting different.

At least the storm matched the mood. Lightning cracked across the sky, illuminating the cramped coffee shop where every outlet was occupied by people pretending to work but actually scrolling TikTok. Kai's laptop flashed 12%. The universal sign of doom.

"You're about to die," a voice said.

Kai looked up. Jordan—their friend group's designated Main Character™—stood there holding a snarled ball of charging cables like some tech wizard summoned by desperation.

"I've got a portable battery, but my cable's fried," Jordan continued, sliding into the chair opposite. "Wanna trade? I charge my laptop, you charge your soul."

"My soul's been dead since AP History," Kai said, but they swapped cables anyway.

Jordan laughed, actually laughed, and Kai felt something weird flutter in their chest. Not the anxiety flutter. The other kind.

"So," Jordan said, gesturing to Kai's face. "The dark circles? Intentional aesthetic, or...?"

"Internalized academic pressure meets capitalism," Kai said. "You?"

"My family's going through it, and running away to coffee shops is cheaper than therapy."

They sat there as lightning kept cracking outside, phones charging between them like some literal lifeline. Kai realized they'd never actually talked to Jordan alone. Always been group chats and party situations and keeping it casual because Jordan was out of their league and Kai was too busy overthinking everything.

"Hey," Jordan said suddenly. "Your hat. I've been meaning to ask—are you a musician, or is that just for bad hair days?"

Kai's hand flew to the beanie. "Both. Also, I'm insecure about my ears."

Jordan's eyebrows shot up. "Your ears? Let me see."

"No. They're weird."

"Kai, I'm literally wearing zombie makeup right now because I had an emotional breakdown in the school bathroom and decided to commit to the bit instead of letting people see me cry. You don't get to judge your own ears."

Kai stared. Then laughed. Then really laughed, and it felt like the first real thing in days.

"Okay, fine," Kai said, pulling off the hat.

Jordan grinned. "Cute ears. 10/10, would recommend."

Outside, the storm raged. Inside, Kai's phone charged. And for the first time all week, Kai didn't feel like a zombie at all.