Glitch in the Feed

Maya's thumb hovered over the screen, heart doing that weird flutter thing it always did when she saw him post. Her **iPhone** glowed in her dark bedroom, 2:47 AM burning bright in the corner. Liam had finally posted the pics from the party—​​the one she'd bailed on because social anxiety decided to kick her ass that night.

She wasn't in any of them. Obviously.

But there was Chelsea, her former **friend** turned middle school enemy turned whatever-they-were-now, laughing with her arm around Liam's shoulder. Maya felt that familiar twist in her gut, the one that tasted like regret and leftover cafeteria **orange** chicken.

Her actual **cat**, Barnaby, chose that moment to jump onto her bed and knock over her water bottle. Water everywhere, soaking into her comforter, dripping onto the floor where her sister's **goldfish**—mayo rest his soul, RIP Kevin 2021-2023—used to swim in sad circles before learning the truth about toilet bowl endings.

"Barnaby, bro, WHAT?" Maya hissed, scrambling to save her phone from the flood.

That's when she saw it. Another notification. Not from Liam. From Chelsea.

*hey saw you didn't come tonight. everything ok? miss you xo*

Maya stared. Chelsea had looked so happy in those pics, so confident and perfect and everything Maya wasn't. But here she was, reaching out. Again.

The twist in Maya's gut softened, replaced by something warmer. Something like possibility.

She typed back, fingers shaking: *yeah just anxiety being annoying af. miss you too.*

Three dots appeared immediately. Then: *wanna come over tomorrow? we can ordered boba and be losers together*

Maya smiled at her screen, Barnaby curling up beside her like nothing had happened. Some glitches weren't bugs. Some were just the universe giving you a second chance when you weren't brave enough to ask for one yourself.