Palm Reading at Midnight

The bonfire crackled, sending sparks spiraling toward the stars. Maya sat cross-legged in the sand, clutching her iphone like it was a lifeline. Still no text from him. Three hours since their fight, and she'd checked her screen approximately four hundred times.

"You're gonna burn a hole in that thing," said Jade, dropping beside her and passing over a paper plate. "Try this. My uncle brought it from the farmer's market—it's actually fire."

Maya eyed the orange slices suspiciously. "What is it?"

"Papaya. With lime and chili. Trust me, it hits different."

Maya took a bite. The combination hit her tongue—sweet, spicy, somehow perfect. She closed her eyes, and for a second, she wasn't obsessing over Lucas's last text or calculating how many days until senior year ended.

"See?" Jade grinned. "You need more惊喜 in your life, Maya Wang. Less phone, more living."

Before Maya could argue, someone called out, "Palm readings! Five bucks! Get your future told!"

A crowd gathered around Leo, who'd apparently taken an online course in chiromancy and was now charging actual money for his services. Maya watched as her classmates lined up, hearts in their eyes, hanging on his every word about "lifelines" and "heart mounts" or whatever.

"You're next," Jade said, dragging her up.

"No way. This is so—"

"Do it."

Maya sat across from Leo, extending her hand. His expression softened.

"Hmm," he said, tracing a line on her palm. "You're overthinking something. Or someone."

Her stomach dropped. "That's not real."

"Also," Leo continued, "your life line says you're about to take a risk. And your head line? It's telling you to let go of what's not serving you."

The group oohed appropriately. Maya pulled her hand back, laughing despite herself.

"That could literally apply to anyone."

"Could be," Leo said. "But you just smiled for the first time all night."

Later, walking home under streetlights, Maya's phone buzzed. Lucas. But instead of reading it immediately, she stuck it in her pocket.

The papaya had been unexpected. The palm reading was mostly nonsense. But somehow, under the salt air and impossible stars, she'd started believing in surprises—including the ones she could give herself.

Her phone buzzed again. She ignored it, swinging her arms, palm open to the night sky.