Ashley adjusted her dress for what felt like the hundredth time, her eyes darting over the crowd as she stood by her father, watching him deliver his speech from the stage. The festival was in full swing, lights twinkling overhead, music pumping through the speakers, and a sea of people dancing and laughing under the night sky.

She could see her father’s security detail out of the corner of her eye, keeping a tight perimeter around her. She sighed, wishing she could just blend into the crowd and lose herself in the music. That’s when she spotted her—a girl, probably around her age, spinning and laughing with a group of friends. She looked so carefree, so happy, and Ashley felt a sudden pang of jealousy, along with something else she couldn’t quite put her finger on.

Ashley leaned over to one of the guards, feigning a smile. “I’m just going to step a little closer to the stage for a better view,” she said, hoping they wouldn’t question it. Her heart raced as she glanced back at the girl, wondering if there was any way she could sneak away just long enough to introduce herself. The temptation was almost too much to resist