Lessons in control

While I'm gone..

The showers in the back of the dojo hissed to life. Steam filled the tiled room.
For the first time in weeks, Skye let her shoulders drop.
No noise. No tension. Just warmth.

They talked about nothing — music, bad reality shows, why men never replace empty shampoo bottles.

When they finished, Maya towel-dried her hair and checked her phone. Her grin widened instantly.
"Well, look at that."
Skye arched a brow. "What?"
"My date just confirmed. Guess who's not going home to Netflix tonight?"

Skye smirked. "So the app finally brought you a prince?"
"Hopefully not a frog with filters on."
Skye laughed. "Make sure he doesn't catfish you from a castle basement."
Maya pointed at her. "If he does, I'm haunting you with screenshots."

They both cracked up — the kind of laugh that felt like air after drowning.

Maya slung her gym bag over her shoulder. "Alright, babe. Gotta run. Hair's still wet, mascara's questionable, but he's lucky I'm even breathing in his direction."
Skye chuckled. "Have fun, you disaster."
"Oh, I intend to. Try not to emotionally combust while I'm gone."

Maya winked and waved, slipping out through the back door — which, in her usual rush, she left slightly ajar.