The August air smelled like dust and fresh paint as Daisy and Jordan walked up the steps to Willow Hall. Moving day had a different hum to it. Trucks idled in front of campus, students laughed, and parents directed traffic with clipboards. Daisy clutched the handle of her blue suitcase and watched Jordan carry a stack of boxes.

They reached her room on the second floor. It was smaller than she expected, but the sun came in through a wide window and made the space feel warm. A narrow bed sat against the wall, a small desk, and a closet with a shelf. Daisy set her suitcase down and touched...