They both laughed, and the house felt full again.

She walked down the hall to Lena’s room. The door was ajar. Lena was sitting on the bed, knees pulled to her chest, which was now a very long way up. Mira didn’t say a word. She just climbed onto the bed, sat down, and leaned her head against Lena’s shoulder.

Then the summer after Mira’s freshman year of college happened.

“Absolutely,” she said. “But I’m wearing the taller pair.”

Lena shrugged, a casual ripple of new, lanky shoulders. “Growth spurt. Doctor said I might hit 5’11”.”