CHAPTER FOURTY SEVEN

Claude had always prided herself on being the life of the party. She was the one who could make everyone laugh, who could get even the shyest person to open up and join in the fun. But today, something felt off. It was like a switch had been flipped, and suddenly she couldn't seem to get into the vibe with her friends.

As they laughed and joked around after school, Claude found herself feeling more and more detached. She tried to force herself to join in, to be the person she always was, but it felt like an act. She couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong, and it was weighing on her heavily.

Eventually, Claude couldn't take it anymore. She made some excuse about needing to go home and dashed off before anyone could question her. She knew that her friends would worry if she left like this, but she just needed to be alone for a little while.

She made her way through the woods behind the school, the same path she had taken countless times with her best friend Shawn. They ha