Chapter 122 —I'm not choosing between you

Narrator:

Aylin drove in silence. It wasn't uncomfortable, but it wasn't the usual silence either, the kind they sometimes shared when they were tired or sleepy. It was colder, newer. Sasha was in the back seat, headphones on, staring out the window.

Traffic was light. Aylin slowed down at a corner and took the usual detour to school. She wanted to talk, but couldn't think of anything casual to say. Not the weather, not classes, not even the new greenhouse served as an excuse.

“Sasha,” she said calmly, without turning her head, "Can we talk for a second?

The teenager took off one earbud.

“Now?”

“Yes, it'll only take a minute.” Sasha didn't answer, but she didn't refuse either. She waited in silence. Aylin didn't change her tone. She didn't raise it. She didn't try to sound condescending. "I know you're not comfortable with me right now. And I'm not asking you to be.

I just want you to know that I'm trying not to make too many mistakes. Sometime