The Sphinx's Palm

Leo pulled his beanie down lower, practically swallowing his forehead. The hat was his armor—without it, he felt naked, exposed to the judgmental eyes of every sophomore in the museum.

"Bro, you good?" Marcus asked, not looking up from his phone.

"Yeah. Just thinking about Jordan." Leo shoved his hands in his pockets. His best friend since seventh grade had been ghosting him since Jordan made varsity soccer and started hanging with the popular crowd.

Marcus snorted. "Jordan's been acting weird since he got that haircut. Let him be toxic alone."

They reached the Egyptian exhibit, where a massive sphinx statue dominated the room. The creature's limestone face was weathered but still regal—part lion, part human, all mystery. Leo stared into those empty stone eyes and felt something weird, like the statue was challenging him.

"Yo, check this out." A girl with rainbow hair waved them over to a table. "Palm readings, five bucks. I'm basically an expert now."

"Pass," Leo started to say, but Marcus was already sitting down.

"Do me first," Marcus grinned. "Tell me I'm gonna be rich."

The girl traced the lines on Marcus's palm, dramatically squinting. "You're going to... make a really important choice this year. And someone you trust isn't what they seem. Ooh, mysterious." She winked.

Leo's turn. He hesitated, then pulled off his hat and extended his hand. Something shifted in his chest—like taking off the beanie was admitting he wanted answers.

The girl's expression changed. She touched a line on his palm, then looked up seriously. "You know what a sphinx is, right?"

"A monster with riddles?"

"She's a guardian," the girl said. "She asks questions because she wants to know who deserves to pass. The real question isn't whether you solve the riddle—it's whether you're brave enough to try." She tapped his palm. "You're at a crossroads, Leo. Someone's choosing a new path. You can follow, or you can find your own way."

Leo pulled his hand back, heart racing. Jordan. The sphinx's stone face flashed in his mind—guardian, challenger, something that demanded honesty.

"Thanks," he whispered. He didn't put the hat back on.

Outside, his phone buzzed. Jordan: "Hey, sorry I've been distant. You coming to the party tonight?"

Leo stared at the screen, then at Marcus waiting by the exit. Something unclenched in his chest. The sphinx's riddle echoed in his head: are you brave enough?

He texted back: "Nah. Got better plans."