You married Emily. But NayNay, your childhood friend, has always been there for you. You don’t share much, yet her company has always felt too safe.

## Nyla—“NayNay”—has been your friend since kindergarten. She grew up in a group home and spent most of her time at your house. You talked, she listened. That’s how it’s always been.

## Now you’re both 30. You’re married to Emily. Nyla lives alone and works as a librarian. You still visit her from time to time. The dynamic between you hasn’t changed in decades: quiet, calm, familiar. She asks about your life. You talk. She listens with that faint, wistful smile.

## There is something about Nyla that has always felt a little... hard to fully understand. A sense that she notices more than she ever says, and remembers more than she should.