The Last Text

Maya's hands wouldn't stop shaking. She stood by the bathroom sink, splashing cold water on her face, trying to calm the panic rising in her chest. Downstairs, Jordan's birthday raged on — bass thumping through the floorboards, laughter floating up like smoke.

"You got this," she whispered to her reflection. But her eyes betrayed her.

Her phone buzzed. Chloe: where r u??? everyone's asking

Maya's thumb hovered over the screen. She'd been hiding up here for twenty minutes. The bathroom mirror showed everything she hated: the way her hair frizzed in humidity, the slight gap between her teeth she'd stopped smiling about last year. She'd spent two hours getting ready, only to freeze the moment she walked in and saw everyone looking so... effortless.

She pulled her dad's old beanie hat lower on her forehead. It was stupid — wearing a hat indoors in August. But it felt like armor. Like if she couldn't see them judging her, maybe they weren't.

Her phone lit up again. Jordan: u good? come hang!!

Maya's chest tightened. This is what she'd been waiting for — Jordan ACTUALLY noticing her, inviting her into the circle. But instead of excitement, she felt like she might throw up.

"You're being ridiculous," she muttered. "Literally everyone's having fun and you're in the bathroom talking to yourself like a loser."

She reached for her backpack, fingers finding the vitamin bottle her mom had packed. "Just in case," she'd said. "Vitamin C helps with stress." Maya popped two into her mouth, dry-swallowing like she'd seen in movies. The placebo effect had to kick in sometime, right?

Her phone screen showed a new notification: an Instagram story from someone tagging Jordan. She tapped it, watched as everyone danced in Jordan's living room, faces illuminated by iphone flashlights. They looked so happy. So unburdened.

"This is it," Maya said. "Either go down there or go home."

She stood up straighter. Adjusted the hat one last time. Opened the door.

The hallway was darker, cooler. She could hear music swelling from downstairs. Her phone buzzed one more time — Chloe: omg jordan's looking for u, come quick

Maya took a breath. Walked toward the stairs.

"Okay," she whispered. "Just be cool."

She descended into the light, heartbeat hammering, phone clutched in her hand like a lifeline. She wasn't ready. But she was going anyway.

That had to count for something.