I knew before I looked.
Something felt wrong the moment I stepped into the classroom.
I chose my seat carefully and told myself it was nothing. Just another meeting. Just another day.
Then I looked at the second row near the aisle.
The chair was empty.
She was probably late.
Lunara waved at me from across the room. Miren's mum was already there, adjusting the strap of her handbag. Sera's dad stood near the door, talking to someone from another class.
"Cala!" Miren's mum called.
I walked over and hugged her.
"You look nice today," I said. "That colour really suits you."
She laughed. "This old thing?"
"It's not old," I said. "You wear it well."
Lunara's parents joined us a moment later.
"Where's your mum?" her dad asked casually.
"She mentioned having a few stops before coming," I said easily.
That sounded believable enough.
They nodded, and the conversation moved on.
I kept my eyes on the door.
Before the meeting started, I slipped out to the bathroom.
The corridor was quieter there.
And that was when I saw her.
She stood near the noticeboard, phone in hand. She looked up briefly.
Our eyes almost met.
Almost.
She looked away first.
Like she had not seen me.
I slowed for a second.
Waiting.
She adjusted her bag and turned down the opposite hallway.
My heart lifted anyway.
She's here.
She'll come.
I went back to the classroom.
The chair was still empty.
The meeting started.
The teacher spoke about grades and expectations. Parents leaned forward. Pens moved across paper.
I kept glancing at the door.
Any minute now.
When my name was called, the teacher paused.
"Cala," she said, looking around. "Is your parent running late?"
A few heads turned.
I shook my head.
"No."
It came out steady.
She nodded and moved on.
That was it.
The chair stayed empty.
When the meeting ended, the room broke into clusters.
Miren's mum asked about our math test.
Sera's dad laughed about strict teachers.
Lunara's mum squeezed my shoulder and told me I looked taller.
I stood between them like I belonged there.
And for a moment, I did.
When the hallway began to clear, Lunara touched my arm.
"She didn't come?" she asked quietly.
I shook my head.
"She was here," I said. "I saw her earlier."
Lunara frowned slightly.
"She must have been busy," I added quickly.
It sounded reasonable enough.
Miren was still nearby. Sera was saying goodbye to her dad.
No one pressed it.
Lunara looked at me a second longer than she needed to.
"Okay," she said.
She did not agree.
But she did not argue either.
The chair stayed with me.
Empty.