Suzu sat on her bedroom floor, surrounded by three empty snack wrappers, an open science textbook, and a blanket that she insisted was definitely a cape.

  She crunched down on a dry cracker and muttered to herself, “Okay. So. Pale girl shows up. Doesn’t eat. Wears coats like she’s hiding wings. Not saying she’s a vampire, but also not not saying it.”

  She paused. Looked around. Narrowed her eyes at her cat, who blinked slowly from the bed.

  Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  “Don’t judge me. You thought the mailman was a lizard.”

  Her phone lit up with a message from Rin.

  Just a single emoji. A cat face. ??

  Suzu grinned.

  Rin was quiet lately, but that was okay. Suzu didn’t need her to talk. She just needed her to keep sending small signs that she was still there.

  Because Suzu noticed stuff. Always had.

  And if things were going to get weird?

  She was already weird enough to meet them halfway.

  Thank you for reading this chapter of What We Don't Say.If something in it stayed with you — a moment, a line, or even just the mood — I’d love to hear what.

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  ?? Always dreaming. Sometimes writing.