Chapter 10
The next morning, Julia woke up before the sun. There was a quiet stillness in the air, the kind that made everything feel soft and far away.
She tucked the letter under her pillow and got dressed, the memory of her grandmother's words still wrapped around her like a warm blanket.
At school, things were the same. No one noticed her walk in. No one asked how she was. Except…
"Hey," a soft voice whispered behind her.
Julia turned slowly.
It was a girl she'd seen before, always sitting alone under the tree near the fence. Her name was Amira. Quiet, like Julia. But today, she was standing there, holding something out.
"A paper bird?" Julia blinked.
Amira nodded. "You dropped it yesterday. I found it outside the library."
Julia took the folded bird in her hands. It was hers. One of the little origami birds she made when she needed to feel calm. She didn't even realize she had lost one.
"Thanks," she whispered, unsure of what else to say.
Amira smiled, small and gentle. "It's okay. I make them too."
Julia looked at her, surprised. "Really?"
Amira nodded. "When I'm sad."