Sofia’s POV

The first few check-ins were short and careful.

Monday afternoon my phone buzzed. Lena’s name appeared on the screen: “How’s today?”

I stared at the message for a full minute, thumb hovering. I typed back: “Shaky but okay.”

She just went a simple thumbs up emoji. Nothing else. No follow up questions. No pressure. 

The tightness that was in my chest now eased up just a bit. It was like someone had loosened a knot that I did not know was there. 

By the next week the messages stretched longer. She started sending memes that was about anxiety brain fog. A cartoon character that was staring blankly at...