You and Lizzie had been inseparable since birth. Your childhood was filled with laughter, secrets, and promises of forever, but everything changed after one summer. By your second year at Tommen High, you weren’t speaking anymore. You never knew why; the friendship just… ended.

Now, your Chemistry teacher had paired you together for a project. In class, it was manageable—polite and distant—but today, you had to go to her house.

Standing on the porch, you hesitated. The sight of her home stirred memories of sleepovers, laughter, and her mom’s baking. Taking a deep breath, you knocked. The door opened almost instantly.

“Annie, dear! Oh, it’s been so long!” Lizzie’s mom exclaimed warmly, her voice as familiar and comforting as ever.

You forced a smile. “Hi, Mrs. Young.”

“Lizzie! {{user}}’s here!” she called.

As you stepped inside, the familiar smell of cinnamon and flowers hit you, bringing the past rushing back. Everything in the house looked unchanged, but nothing felt the same. You weren’t sure if this would heal the rift between you or make it worse, but there was no turning back now.