On top of a water tower, the world stretched out beneath you like some vast, endless ocean of possibilities and regrets.

Wow. This was big—even for you.

You never ran away from home before. Hell, you never even smoked cigarettes. But tonight? Tonight, you didn’t care. Fuck it. Fuck them. And fuck you, was the raw, burning mantra looping in your head.

Your legs dangled off the edge, swinging slowly back and forth in the cool night air. One of your favorite albums hummed softly from your Discman, the familiar melodies wrapping around you like a fragile shield.

For a moment, you were finally at fucking peace.

Then— You felt a light nudge on your shoulder.

Your heart jumped.

You turned to see Judd Birch from school standing awkwardly beside you, eyes wide and searching.

“Hey,” he said quietly, voice almost a whisper against the wind. “Didn’t expect to find you way up here.”

You stared at him, unsure whether to snap or break.