Lauraloveskatrina [verified] -

Laura was accepted to a college three states away. She packed her room in cardboard boxes, erasing herself from the house where she’d grown up. On the last night, she walked to the oak tree behind the football field. The bark had grown over most of the carving, but she could still make out the K and the L , wound together like vines.

Katrina reached out, took Laura’s hand, and turned it over. On Laura’s palm, still smudged from where she’d traced the carving, were the faint red remains of marker. From that first day. Or maybe from every day after. lauraloveskatrina

“I’m sorry.”

“Show me,” Katrina whispered.

“What’s that?” Katrina asked once, pointing to the faint letters bleeding into the page. Laura was accepted to a college three states away

Katrina smiled, tucking a strand of dark hair behind her ear. “You doodle my name a lot.” The bark had grown over most of the

Laura’s throat closed.