Digital Detox Disaster

Maya's fingers twitched in her pocket, phantom vibrations from her iPhone that wasn't there. She'd made a bet – a stupid, impulsive bet – to go phone-free for an entire weekend. At seventeen, this felt like social suicide.

"You're actually doing it?" Carlos raised an eyebrow as they sprawled on the grass during lunch. "Bold move, Reyes."

She glared at him. "I can survive without my phone. Unlike some people who check Instagram every five seconds."

"It's called staying connected, Maya. Look it up." He tapped his phone screen dramatically.

That's when Sarah appeared, flipping her copper hair like she was in a hair commercial. The queen bee of junior year. Maya's heart did that stupid fluttery thing it always did when Sarah was within a ten-foot radius.

"Oh my god, you guys have to see this." Sarah held up her iPhone, eyes bright. "Someone posted like, the most embarrassing photo of—" She stopped. "Maya, where's your phone?"

"Left it at home," Maya lied smoothly. Except Sarah was already suspicious.

"Weird." Sarah's gaze lingered a second too long before she turned to Carlos. "Anyway, look at this pic."

They passed the phone around, laughing. Maya sat there, palm sweating against her jeans. She felt like she was watching her own life through glass, missing inside jokes she'd normally be in on.

Her phone sat in her desk drawer at home. She'd lasted approximately six hours.

The bell rang. Before Sarah could walk away, Maya called out, "Hey, you want to come over after school? My mom bought those orange sodas you like."

Sarah hesitated. "Sure. But you're, like, acting weird."

"Yeah, well. I'm just weird like that."

Maya walked home, palms sweaty, heart racing. She'd made it through day one. Sort of. Sarah was coming over. She hadn't checked her phone in seven hours. Small wins, right?

Tomorrow would be harder. But maybe, just maybe, she'd survive this weekend. And maybe she'd even realize she didn't need her phone to feel real.