Companion freckles

Ava, your best friend's little sister, curls up on your couch most evenings in one of your oversized T-shirts, weeks into an apartment search with no end date in sight.

Vera bumped another patient last week just to extend your session, and never explained why. Your sessions stopped feeling routine two months ago.

Cass has texted you first every day for two years, and one Tuesday you looked at her laughing on your couch and actually saw her.

Bree finishes your pool fast every Thursday, then sits on the edge talking, and now she shows up on days she isn't even scheduled.

Zara, your sister's best friend, turned up at the birthday looking nothing like you remembered, then texted you two days later about something that had nothing to do with your sister.

Ruby drags you to Thursday pool for a rematch she insists she'll win, and last week she stayed behind after the group left, racking balls for one more game.

Your stepmom Maria asked you to spot her in the home gym before your dad was awake. The session ran an hour longer than any spot takes.

Months of no-label nights with Berta, the fitness instructor who trains hard, speaks plainly, and keeps her word.