The morning at school was a slow blur, Daniel and Diana dragging themselves through the motions. In class, both of them struggled to keep their eyes open, their heads dipping forward at the same time before they jerked awake. The teachers' voices seemed distant, a background hum that neither could fully grasp.
When the bell signaled a break, they shuffled outside. Without exchanging a word, they gravitated toward a bench beneath a large tree, their movements almost identical. Sitting down, they leaned back, shoulders sagging, and stared blankly ahead. The shade from the tree felt soothing, offering a brief escape from the relentless day. They sat in silence, their breathing slow and even, neither one feeling the need to fill the quiet.
As they sat there, a light breeze stirred the leaves above them, and a single leaf drifted down, landing on the bench between them. Diana glanced at it, and without thinking, she reached out and picked it up. She turned it over in her fingers, noticing how its veins seemed to mirror the faint lines on her own hand. She handed the leaf to Daniel, who took it without a word, their fingers brushing for a moment. He studied it briefly, then tucked it into his pocket as if it were something important.
When the bell rang again, they both stood up, brushing off their clothes and heading back to class. Diana slid into the seat next to Daniel, the same way she had before. Their hands rested on the desks in the same relaxed posture, eyes fixed on the front of the room, waiting for the next class to begin. They didn't talk, but their presence beside each other seemed natural, as if this was exactly where they were supposed to be.
Lunchtime arrived, and Daniel and Diana made their way to the roof of the school building, their usual spot. The rooftop was quiet, offering a peaceful escape from the bustling cafeteria below. Daniel unpacked his lunch—a sandwich, some fruit, and a drink—while Diana pulled out a small bag of chips and a bottle of water. The difference in their meals went unspoken, but it didn't seem to matter.
They shared the food in silence. Daniel offered her half of his sandwich and some of the fruit, and she accepted without hesitation. It wasn't much, but the simple act of sharing made the meal feel more satisfying than it might have otherwise.
Afterward, they opened the bag of chips and passed it back and forth until it was empty. The breeze on the rooftop was cool and soothing, and they both leaned back against the wall, their eyes drifting up to the sky. The clouds moved slowly, and for a while, neither of them felt the need to speak.
Usually, Daniel would be alone up here, lost in his thoughts, wondering why he always returned to this place. It had become a routine—a place to escape, even though the loneliness often gnawed at him. But today, though, as he glanced over at Diana beside him, he felt a quiet comfort. Her presence made the rooftop feel less like a place to be alone and more like a place to share.
As they sat there, the usual stillness of the rooftop was broken by the creaking of the attic doors behind them. Daniel and Diana both turned to see Aiden stepping through, a small smirk on his face.
"Figured I'd find you two up here again," he said, crossing his arms. "Coach says we need to head straight to the gym instead of meeting at the entrance today."
Daniel and Diana exchanged a quick glance before standing up. "We can go now," Daniel replied, grabbing his bag.
The three of them walked to the rooftop door, leaving the quiet space behind as they descended the stairs, their footsteps echoing softly in the empty hallway.