The Hidden Warning

It started off like any other school year at Florida State University for Morgan, Kayla, and Bekah; the three girls had been inseparable since their freshman year on campus when they met as roommates. They really were no different than any other group of college friends; they studied together, played sports together, and they could always count on each other for moral support in any aspect of their lives. They were the perfect image of what a long lasting, durable friendship should be… or so they thought.

On the move in day of their senior year, the three girls set off on their annual hike to the popular sweet shop on campus (it was a tradition of theirs to go to the sweet shop upon returning from any break or extended weekend to catch up on each other’s lives). They all chose to sit at their usual table, a table in which they had written “Morgan & Kayla & Bekah FOREVER” on the adjacent wall during their sophomore year, only when they went to sit down they noticed that Bekah’s name had been aggressively scribbled out of existence. “What the heck?! Who did this?”, Bekah asked as a mixture of confusion and annoyance set in across her face. Morgan and Kayla noticed this change in Bekah’s attitude and did all they could to take Bekah’s mind off their recent discovery, but there was no hope, the damage had been done. “I’m sure we can ask an employee if they noticed anything that happened at this table”, Morgan stated in a matter of fact tone. “Yeah, someone had to have seen something”, Kayla said in agreeance. However, when they asked the cashier he had seen anything he responded with, “I’m sorry, but no, I did not see anyone scribble out the name.” Feeling more lost than before, the girls set off back to their rooms.

Since that one day in the sweet shop, the girls had tried multiple times to figure out exactly what had happened and why Bekah’s name had been crossed out. However, changes had begun to happen in their friend group; Bekah was no longer acting like herself, flunking out of classes, and partying every night. She hadn’t reached out to Morgan and Kayla for a few weeks, the other two had moved on without her. It was almost as if Bekah’s name being crossed out was a sign of what was to come…