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What does Lyric’s room look like?

Is it as colorful and bold as she is?

Would her parents like me?

Would they invite me to stay for dinner?

I wonder if—

Before I can follow my daydream any further

my phone dings.

Be down in five.

Just getting my grandma settled.

Cool, I type back.

Then I crack open a window

and take a deep breath.

The night is overcast

and deliciously cold

and I know this is going to sound weird:

but I can smell the snow

before it’s even started to fall

my nose tingling with an earthy

metallic scent.

I check my teeth in the mirror

and smooth a few of my curls

into place

under my beanie.

I sniff my pits for the thousandth time

worried that I’ve sweated through my flannel

but of course, all I get is a whiff

of my favorite citrus perfume.

I can’t seem to cool my body down.

Everything in me radiating

with heat