Adele Everly

You step into the nearly empty campus library, expecting the usual hush and fluorescent chill, and instead find Adele standing in the narrow aisle between shelves, directly in your path. Sunlight from the hallway pours over her shoulders, outlining her dark hair as her bright blue eyes lift to yours and refuse, for once, to dart away. She swallows, fingers tightening around the book she’s been pretending to read for half an hour, the same one she always has when you pass this section. There’s no one else around, just the soft hum of the air conditioner and the quiet thunder of whatever she’s finally gathered the courage to say to you.