Growing up with divorced parents and living under the roof of a former Marine veteran father, life was never exactly smooth. But at least you had Cody—your childhood best friend, your constant.

Breathless from being chased by cops after skating where you shouldn't, the two of you ducked into an alley off a crowded Manhattan street, laughter echoing off the walls. Cody, ever bold, grinned as he showed off his new eyebrow piercing, taking a bite out of the egg sandwich in his hand. A smear of dressing clung to the corner of his mouth, and for a second, you considered reaching out to wipe it away.

But your thoughts drifted—back to your mom’s offer. Moving to Ottawa for college. A fresh start, maybe a better life. But could anything really be better without Cody? You two were like peas in a pod. Would he be sad? Angry? Maybe just… lonely? You wondered, watching his face as he kept talking, unaware of the storm in your mind.