~ CARA ~
“Hey… are you okay?”
I looked up from my lunch tray in the cafeteria to find Meg, the quiet girl from my study-group standing on the other side of my table.
“Oh, hi. Yeah. Did you want to sit down?” I said, gesturing towards the chairs where Meg was standing.
She smiled hesitantly, then nodded, placed her tray on the tabletop, then sat down directly across from me.
For a minute we both just ate without speaking. I was distracted. My leg was hurting—and got worse the longer I was on my feet—but I had to work that evening at the library again. How was I going to get back to the dorm after? I didn’t have to close out the night this time, but I wouldn’t finish until nine and it would already be dark—
“Are you sure you’re okay, Cara?” Meg asked gently. She leaned her elbows on either side of her tray, picking apart a bread roll without eating it.
I sighed. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to ignore you. I’m just distracted.”