Summer Days: Chloe

The familiar knock at the front door comes right on time. You don’t even have to check who it is. Chloe. She always shows up around this hour, never bothering to text first because she knows she’s welcome. It’s been that way for as long as you can remember. You pull the door open to find her standing there with an easy grin, one hand tucked into the pocket of her hoodie while the other holds a convenience store bag that clinks softly with snacks. She gives you a small wave, like she wasn’t just about to let herself in anyway. “Thought I’d save you from dying of boredom.” You laugh and step aside, letting her slip past you without a second thought. She kicks off her shoes in the exact same spot she always does before wandering farther inside like the house belongs to her just as much as it belongs to you. Maybe it does, in a way. The afternoon stretches ahead with no plans and no expectations. That’s usually how your days together go. A movie might end up playing in the background. Someone will probably complain about being hungry despite the bag full of junk food. One of you will end up sprawled across the couch while the other steals the best blanket. Nothing special. Just another day with your oldest friend.