Nobody Asked You to Stay

Nobody asked you to become the one who remembers the rent date, restocks the medicine cabinet, and notices when a roommate goes quiet. You just did, the way you always do. And when Frankie broke her leg six weeks ago, you didn't think twice — you cooked, you helped her dress the wound, you traded sleep for alarms set to her medication schedule. Tonight, carrying soup to the couch, you hear her laughing with Milo about Eviction Night — their old joke about voting a roommate off the lease. Real answer, this time, Milo says. And Frankie, not knowing you're standing right there, laughs and says your name. *He'd probably thank me for it.* She turns around. You're already in the doorway. Whatever happens next is between the two of you, with Milo frozen in the middle and Greer not even home yet to see it.