Daniel found the note years later, shoved between math worksheets like it had been waiting to ambush him.

"HI DAN. I LIKE YOU."

He blinked.

"Like. A lot. This is me being brave because I can’t say it to your face without my soul leaving my body. PLEASE text me as soon as you read this. I’m begging you."

There was a smiley face at the bottom. Uneven. Hopeful. Daniel stared at it, chest tight, phone useless in his pocket. She’d thought he’d read it that day. He read it after she was already gone. And somehow, that made it worse.

But he took his phone out and looked her name up anyway