Vitamins for Your Palm

Maya's palms were sweating. Like, actually sweating. She wiped them on her denim shorts for the third time, clutching the emergency vitamin gummies in her pocket like they were some kind of magical shield.

"You're doing it again," said Jules, nudging her with an elbow. "The overthinking thing. I can practically hear your brain crunching."

Maya and Jules had been best friend since seventh grade, back when Maya was still the quiet girl who sat in the back and Jules was the loud one who somehow made everyone feel cool. Now they were juniors, and the dynamic had shifted. Or maybe Maya had shifted.

"It's just a palm reader, Maya," Jules said, gesturing at the neon sign glowing above the carnival booth. MADAME ZORA, TRUSTED SEER OF FATES. "What's the worst that could happen? She tells you you'll die alone?"

Maya swallowed. "She could tell me I'll always be this way."

"What way?"

"You know. This way." Maya waved a hand at herself.

But Jules was already marching toward the booth, her confidence radiating like she owned the whole carnival. Maya followed, because that's what she did. Followed.

Madame Zora turned out to be a sophomore named Lily with way too much eyeliner and a crystal that was definitely plastic from Spencer's. She took Maya's hand, her own palms dry and sure, and traced the lines on Maya's sweating palm.

"You bear a heavy burden," Lily intoned, trying to sound mystical. "Something you're not telling anyone."

Maya froze.

"But," Lily continued, "I see friendship. Strong friendship. And someone who needs to learn that vitamins aren't just for your body."

"Wait, what?" Maya said.

"For your soul," Lily clarified, then ruined it by cracking a smile. "Also, ten dollars, please."

Later, as they sat on the curb sharing stale churros, Maya finally told Jules everything. About the anxiety. About feeling like she was just bearing it all alone. About the vitamins in her pocket that weren't actually helping anything.

Jules listened. Then she said, "You know what Madame Zora meant, right?"

"That I'm hopeless?"

"That you need to let people in," Jules said. "Also that she could definitely see your vitamin gummies through your pocket. It wasn't that deep."

Maya laughed so hard churro crumbs went everywhere. For the first time all night, her palms were dry.