Seventeen. That's what I was now. A number that seemed to hold so much significance for everyone else, but for me, it just felt like another year of being stuck in limbo. Unsure of what I wanted, unsure of who I was. My friends seemed to have it all figured out - college plans, career goals, and a clear sense of direction. Me? I was still trying to find my way.
The air in the room was too thick, heavy with the scent of old wood and the metallic tang of unspoken threats. I watched the way they looked at her—like she was a bargaining chip, a piece on a board they thought they controlled. They didn't.