Sitting alone atop the school building, Charlotte rested her elbows on the metal railing as the soft hum of the wind brushed past her hair.
The morning sunlight bathed the playground below in a golden glow, and from her height, she could see almost everything... the chatter of students, the laughter, and the faint echo of sneakers striking the pavement.
Her gaze, however, was fixed on one person.
Down on the court, Brandon stood among his classmates, dressed in his school uniform with the sleeves rolled up.
He was laughing as he served the volleyball.
Every time he jumped to hit the ball, his hair would catch the light, and Charlotte found herself unconsciously following him, her eyes softening for a moment.
"Still so full of energy…" she murmured under her breath, her lips curling faintly.
Watching Brandon move so freely, smiling without a trace of burden, brought a strange warmth to her chest.
