Saturday had barely slipped into noon when Val dropped it. No warning, no buildup—just her voice cutting through the silence of my living room while she sat curled up on the couch, knees tucked under her, sketching aimlessly on the corner of a notebook she wasn't even pretending to focus on anymore.
> "I want to go to an amusement park."
I blinked at her from across the room, halfway through tying my shoes. "Really? An amusement park? Val, you're not a kid."
She didn't snap back like she usually would. Didn't even look at me. Instead, her gaze dropped to the floor, fingers still fidgeting with her pen. Her voice came out softer, quieter, almost like she was confessing a secret.
> "I've never really gone to one before."
That stopped me cold.
"You haven't?" The disbelief slipped out before I could stop it.
