Three AM Porch Talks

Marcus felt like a zombie. Third night this week he'd been up until 3 AM scrolling through TikTok, watching everyone else live their best lives while his brain refused to shut off. Junior year was eating him alive.

He crept downstairs, sliding the back door open quietly. Luna, his golden retriever, was already there — she'd developed a sixth sense about his 3 AM breakdowns. She nudged his hand with that soft, snouty way she had, like she understood everything he couldn't say out loud.

"You again," Marcus whispered, dropping to sit beside her on the porch steps. Luna rested her head on his knee, those soulful eyes judging him gently. "Yeah, I know. I'm a mess."

He adjusted his beanie, pulling it lower like it could actually hide him from the world. It was his security blanket — ever since middle school, when some kid had made fun of his hair, Marcus had discovered that hats were basically invisibility cloaks. If people couldn't see your hair, they couldn't see you.

The truth was, Marcus was tired of performing. Tired of being funny Marcus in AP Bio, quiet Marcus in lunch, weirdly-intense Marcus at gaming club. Which one was real? Sometimes he felt like he was just stumbling through each day on autopilot, a zombie going through the motions.

Luna whined softly and licked his hand.

"You're the only one who gets me, girl," Marcus said, scratching behind her ears. "Humans are exhausting."

His phone buzzed. Skylar had posted a story — her and their friend group at Maya's house, everyone laughing, living their best weekend while Marcus sat alone with his dog and his anxiety spiral.

He typed out a response like five times then deleted it. *Wish I was there* sounded pathetic. *Looks fun* seemed fake. *Why didn't you invite me* made him sound bitter. Which, honestly, he was.

"Being a teenager is the worst, Luna. No one tells you that."

She thumped her tail against the porch.

Marcus took a deep breath and actually looked up at the sky for the first time in forever. The stars were actually pretty dope. He'd been too busy doomscrolling to notice.

"Okay," he said to the dog. "New plan. I'm done being a zombie. I'm gonna text Skylar tomorrow and actually ask to hang out. Not wait to be invited. And maybe I'll even take off this hat sometimes."

Luna perked up like she approved.

"Baby steps though," Marcus added, pulling the beanie back down. "Baby steps."