t started small, like a hairline fracture in glass.
Sara didn't notice it at first. Emily and Hannah still greeted her every morning with bright smiles, looping their arms through hers as they walked into class. But there was a new sharpness in their laughter, a strange glint in their eyes when others looked at them.
One Friday afternoon, the school hosted a debate competition. Sara wasn't competing, but Daniel Li was on stage, his calm voice steady as he dismantled his opponent's arguments with quiet confidence.
The audience murmured in admiration. Even the teachers leaned forward, impressed.
"Wow," Hannah whispered loudly, nudging Emily. "He's so smart. And handsome, too."
Emily giggled, casting Sara a sly glance. "Sara, don't you think he'd make a perfect match for you? Oh, wait — maybe he's too serious for your taste."
A few students nearby snickered. Heat crept into Sara's cheeks.
"I don't even know him well," she replied quietly.
But Emily and Hannah weren't done. As the competition ended, they hurried to the stage, showering Daniel with praise. Sara hung back, uncomfortable, watching as her so-called friends fought for his attention.
Later, in the cafeteria, Sara overheard them whispering again.
"…if Sara really liked him, she should've said something. But she just stood there like a doll."
"…well, not everyone gets what they want. Maybe she's not special after all."
Sara's chest tightened. The voices weren't meant for her ears, but they echoed louder than any applause.
That evening, Mei Lin called her over while they walked home. "You heard them, didn't you?"
Sara forced a smile. "It's fine. They were just joking."
Mei Lin scoffed. "Joking? No, Sara. That's how people test boundaries. First it's jokes, then it's whispers, and before you know it, you're the fool they all laugh at."
Sara's steps faltered. "But… they're my friends."
"Friends?" Mei Lin's eyes hardened. "Or vultures circling, waiting for the first sign of weakness?"
The words cut deeper than she wanted to admit.
That night, Sara lay in bed replaying the day's events. Daniel's calm gaze, her friends' sharp whispers, Mei Lin's blunt warning.
Her phone buzzed with messages.
Emily:We should totally go shopping tomorrow! You'll come, right?
Hannah:Don't forget to bring your card, hehe.
Sara stared at the screen, her fingers trembling. The messages looked innocent, playful even, but to her they felt like demands dressed as invitations.
She typed a reply, then erased it. For the first time, she didn't want to answer.
The fracture in the glass of her friendships was no longer invisible. It was spreading, sharp and dangerous, and Sara feared it was only a matter of time before everything shattered.