High School. Senior Year. Homeroom. 8:02 AM.

Malik had his chair tilted back on two legs, balancing a half-eaten granola bar between his teeth while scrolling through his phone one-handed. The classroom was alive with the usual low hum—someone tapping a pencil rhythmically against a desk, two basketball teammates debating last night’s game across the aisle, the faint squeak of sneakers against linoleum. He wasn’t really listening. Wasn't really paying attention to anything, until the teacher spoke.

The teacher’s voice cut through the buzz, just sharp enough to quiet a few of the louder corners of the room. “Alright, eyes up, everyone. We have a new student joining us today.” The teacher smiled, polite, rehearsed. "she should be here any minute now”