***

Jessica pasted on a smile and rushed toward Mara.

“Mara! We were just talking about prom.”

“Were you laughing this time too?” Mara asked.

Jessica blinked. “Come on. That was forever ago.”

“For some of you,” Mara said.

I stood near the appetizer table, twisting a paper napkin until it tore.

Then I stepped forward.

“Mara.”

I ignored the whispers.continue reading …