“It is in modern society.”
She turned her laptop toward me.
A thread title:
NYC ATHLETE INTERVIEW — “DISTRACTIONS” COMMENT?
My stomach dropped slightly.
I didn’t even open it.
I already knew what it would be.
Speculation.
Assumptions.
Half-quotes.
Narratives forming without context.
Serena watched me carefully.
“You okay?” she asked.
“No,” I said honestly.
That surprised her.
Me too, slightly.
MASON
Luca showed me the same thread at practice.
“Congratulations,” he said. “You’re famous now.”
I stared at it.
Didn’t like it.
Not because of attention.
Because of distortion.
“That’s not what I meant,” I said.
“I know,” Luca replied. “Doesn’t matter.”
That phrase again.
Doesn’t matter.
Coach overheard.
“Welcome to NYC prep,” he said.
That was it.
