Ashley’s posture relaxed, no sign of defiance or retaliation evident. In fact, one could theorize it was a stance of submission; however, not total defeat.

Ashley noticed a tear in Madison’s jeans, her mouth opening to tell her, but deciding against it, her observance inevitably interpreted as some sort of sympathy tactic. And Ashley was no one’s fucking sob story.

Her eyes went to Spencer’s, but she just stood there. As if attempting her best imitation of a tree, trying to blend in, the other two girls forgetting she was ever there to begin with.

Madison placed a soft hand on Ashley’s dirty shirtsleeve, as if to steady Ash’s frame from the verbal blow that was about to emerge from Madison’s lips.

“Ash, alright, we’ve been friends awhile and I really like you, but…I mean, school is starting again, and were gonna be sophomores and stuff, and I don’t want to, you know, start off on the wrong foot with everybody.”

“You mean, by hanging out with me?” Ashley allowed Madison’s hand to rest where it was, as if not wanting her to be uncomfortable as she ended their friendship.

“No, yes…I mean…give me hand here, Spence?”

The transformation swept over them in wave. As if the group’s entire dynamic had begun to shift, with everything in slow motion, the outcome visible and seemingly irreversible.

Ashley mentally compared it to trying to watch the sun move in the sky or a flower slowly bloom; only the outcome of the event is evident, while the journey cannot be tracked. A line had been drawn on a concrete driveway with chalk, and all three girls had watched the shadow creep along, the only visible evidence of the sun’s movement, and aside from taking science’s word for it.

The moment seemed almost predestined which caused an odd sensation of relief to wash over Ashley’s body. She no longer had to pretend this all wouldn’t end and that her friends would never betray her. Tonight would be the first night she would sleep soundly in what seemed like ages, the overwhelming cloud of doom no longer hovering over her dreams.

Spencer cracked the silence.

“Ashley, I don’t want you to take this all the wrong way, okay? I so know you didn’t mean to kill the bird. And I am so sorry it happened…but, maybe we need to like, take a break or something?”