"Raven."
My mother's voice cuts through my sleep before my alarm can.
I groan and turn onto my side, pulling the blanket closer. My body feels heavy, like it never really rested.
"Raven," she calls again, sharper this time. "Get up."
"I'm awake," I mutter, though my eyes are still closed.
"The kids need to be ready in an hour."
I open my eyes and stare at the wall. There's a small crack near the corner, thin and jagged. I've been meaning to tell myself it looks like a branch. I don't today.
"I know," I say, sitting up slowly. "I just need a few minutes to get ready myself. It's my first day too, remember?"
She's already in my doorway.
She waves her hand dismissively, as if I've said something irrelevant. Like, my life outside this house barely exists.
"Your first day doesn't matter as much as theirs," she says. "You're the responsible one, Raven. You need to act like it."
I swallow. The words sit heavy in my chest.
"I just meant—"
Her hand moves before I finish the sentence.
The slap lands sharply against my cheek. My head snaps to the side, heat spreading instantly across my skin. The sound feels louder than it should.
For a second, neither of us speaks.
Then she exhales.
"There," she says, softer now. "That's what happens when you talk back."
I keep my eyes on the floor.
"You know better than to argue with me in the morning," she continues, like she's explaining something reasonable. "I don't like being stressed before work."
"I wasn't arguing," I say quietly.
Her gaze sharpens.
I correct myself immediately.
"I'm sorry."
Her shoulders relax. She reaches out and smooths my hair once, gentle enough that it almost feels like care.
"I know you're tired," she says. "But this family depends on you. If you mess up, everything falls apart."
She steps back.
"Now go. Help your siblings."
I nod and move past her.
In the kitchen, James is slumped over the table, barely awake. Lily is sitting on the counter, kicking her legs and humming to herself. She stops when she sees me.
"You're late," Lily says.
"I know."
I pour cereal. I cut fruit. I braid Lily's hair while she complains that I'm pulling too hard. James spills milk and looks at me like he's waiting for permission to panic.
"It's fine," I tell him, grabbing a cloth. "It's okay."
My cheek still burns.
At the bus stop, Lily chatters about her teacher. James talks about a game he wants. I answer when they ask me questions. I smile when I'm supposed to.
The bus pulls up. I help them on and watch until it disappears down the street.
Only then do I touch my face.
Back inside the house, my parents' bedroom door is closed. I don't knock.
I go to my room and lock the door behind me.
The mirror reflects me in pieces. Messy hair. Long sleeves. No mark yet, just faint redness.
I get dressed quickly. Neutral colors. Nothing that stands out.
College.
Outside, campus feels too loud, too alive. People move in groups, laughing, bumping into each other without apologizing.
Sophie spots me near the entrance and waves enthusiastically.
"Raven!"
I walk over.
"Can you believe we're finally here?" she says, grinning as she checks her schedule. "First day."
"Yeah, ready as I'll ever be," I reply.
She doesn't even notice the lie.
The hallway buzzes with students moving between classes, their laughter bouncing off the walls. It all feels distant, like I'm walking through it without really being there. Sophie walks beside me, flipping through her schedule, bright as always.
"So, we have a break before the next class," she says. "Do you want to grab a coffee or—"
I nod before she finishes. "Sure."
She smiles, satisfied, and keeps talking.
As we near the café, I spot two familiar faces by the entrance. My stomach tightens.
"Isn't that Emelie and Jack?" Sophie says, already lifting her hand to wave.
I slow down without meaning to.
Emelie's face lights up when she sees Sophie. The smile falters when her eyes shift to me.
"Sophie!" she squeals, pulling her into a hug. "I didn't know you were coming here."
"Yeah," Sophie says easily. "New beginnings."
Jack looks at me and smirks. He always did that—like he knew something about me I didn't.
"I didn't expect to see you here," he says. "Thought you might've disappeared after graduation."
Sophie shifts beside me. She doesn't say anything.
"You're still hanging out together?" Jack continues, glancing between us. "Guess it's nice to have someone to rely on."
Emelie laughs softly. "Sophie's always been like that. So patient. So kind."
I stare at the floor.
"Well," Jack adds, "someone has to stick with her, right?"
There's a pause.
"Well," Sophie says finally, smiling, "someone has to make sure Raven doesn't drift away."
The words land lightly. Almost joking.
Emelie giggles. "You really are a saint."
Sophie shrugs like it's nothing.
I tug my sleeves down, the fabric brushing my wrists.
Sophie turns to me. "You don't mind, do you? I mean, you're not really the social butterfly type anyway."
I shake my head. "No."
"See?" she says, pleased. "She gets it."
They say goodbye, still laughing, and Sophie pulls me along toward the café.
After a few steps, she sighs. "You know they didn't mean anything by it, right? They were just joking."
I nod.
"I'm glad," she says. "Not everyone understands you like I do."
She smiles, relieved, and starts talking about our next class.
I walk beside her, quiet, the noise of campus filling the space where I don't speak.