Kyle exhaled, dragging himself back toward the hall. Every step ached, his muscles singing with exhaustion.
Inside his room, he peeled off the damp shirt and stared at his reflection in the cracked mirror above the sink. His face looked sharper, not hollowed like before. He splashed water over his face, letting the chill ground him, then changed into clean clothes.
He checked the time. Mira's classes would be letting out soon. He hadn't seen her since… since that day.
Kyle ran a hand through his damp hair, grabbed his jacket and stepped outside. He moved quickly, weaving through the streets, until the sharp clang of the school bell carried to his ears.
Kyle lingered outside the school gates, hands stuffed in his jacket pockets. Kids poured out in clusters, laughter spilling into the streets as they broke off toward homes, friends, and freedom. For a moment, he envied them... their biggest worries were homework and weekend plans. None of them carried a scythe. None of them had nightmares filled with teeth and shadows.
Mira pushed through the crowd with her usual bounce, backpack slung carelessly over one shoulder, her dark hair catching the light of the lowering sun. She was talking animatedly to a friend but when her eyes flicked to the side and caught sight of him, she froze mid-sentence.
"Kyle?"
Her voice carried across the schoolyard, sharp with disbelief.
Kyle lifted a hand in a small, sheepish wave. "Hey."
She blinked rapidly, then jogged over, stopping just shy of him. Her eyes swept him up and down, scanning like she didn't trust what she was seeing.
"You look… healthier?" she said slowly, almost suspiciously. "Like, really healthy. And you..." She frowned. "You've been gone a week, Kyle. With no calls, no texts, nothing. And at the coffee shop they said they haven't heard from you since that day we went to celebrate."
He winced. "Yeah… sorry about that."
"'Sorry'? That's all you've got to say?" She planted her hands on her hips, narrowing her eyes. "You can't just disappear and come back like… like this. What happened to you?"
"I... uh…" He scratched the back of his neck, forcing a smile. "It's complicated long story. Honestly, you wouldn't believe me if I told you."
"Try me."
Kyle, he nodded toward the sidewalk. "C'mon, let's take a walk. I'll explain… later, maybe."
Mira groaned. "You're so annoying." But she fell into step beside him anyway.
They walked down the quiet street, the last of the school crowd dispersing behind them. They didn't talk for a little while, the silence wasn't awkward, exactly.
Eventually, Mira sighed and decided to fill it herself. "Classes are the same," she said, swinging her bag. "Math's killing me but I passed the last test, so that's something. Oh... and Mr. Dlamini finally caught Josh trying to vape in the bathroom. Idiot got suspended." She laughed, light and genuine.
Kyle chuckled, shaking his head. "Sounds about right."
"And, uh…" She hesitated, then smiled shyly. "I think a boy in my art class likes me."
Kyle stopped dead in his tracks. "Wait, what?"
Mira burst out laughing at his expression. "Relax bro! It's nothing serious. He just keeps offering me pencils and stuff."
"That's how it starts..." Kyle muttered darkly, resuming their walk. "First pencils, then..."
"Chocolates? Flowers?" She grinned, clearly enjoying his discomfort.
"Exactly, but never go to his place." Kyle said.
Mira cracked the loudest laugh. Kyle groaned but deep down, he was glad. Glad she could talk about dumb crushes and school drama like any other sixteen-year-old. Glad her world was still bright.
They turned onto a quieter street, the chatter of the schoolyard now just an echo behind them. Mira's smile faded a little.
"You still didn't answer my question..." she said softly. "Where were you, Kyle? Really?"
His steps faltered, he forced a grin. "Training."
"Training?"
"Yeah..." he said quickly. "Picked up some… work. It's rough but it pays good."
She eyed him skeptically. "What, are you secretly a bodybuilder now?"
Kyle flexed his arm dramatically, earning a snort from her. "Check it out, all muscle."
"Please, that's like… noodle strength." She shoved his shoulder lightly, laughing again.
The sound eased something heavy in his chest.
As they reached the corner near the orphanage. Mira slowed, her expression softening.
"You know…" she said quietly. "When you disappeared, I thought… I thought maybe you weren't coming back. Like the others."
Memories of kids they'd grown up with filled his mind, kids who hadn't stayed. Some adopted, some lost to the streets, some simply gone.
He stopped, turning to face her fully. "Mira."
Her eyes lifted to his.
"I'll keep showing up." he said firmly. "No matter what. I don't care what happens... I'll always come back. You hear me?"
Her lip trembled just a little. Then she smiled, small but real. "You better."
They stood there for a beat longer, the setting sun painting the sky in streaks of orange and violet. Kyle forced the guilt down.
When she finally headed inside, Kyle lingered outside the gate, staring up at the fading sky.