The desk beside Maya's had been empty for three weeks, and no one talked about it anymore.At first, she'd expected someone new to take the seat—maybe a transfer student or a late schedule change—but it stayed untouched. No notebooks. No chair pulled out. Just a smooth wooden surface that caught the afternoon light.During history class, Maya sometimes glanced over without meaning to. She couldn't explain why. It wasn't like she'd known the student who used to sit there very well. Just a few borrowed pencils. A few quiet laughs when the teacher said something unintentionally funny.One day, the teacher paused mid-lecture. "We'll be moving desks tomorrow," he said, almost casually.Maya felt something twist in her chest.The next day, the desk was gone. The space filled in. Everything looked normal again.But Maya still caught herself looking to her side—at nothing—remembering how silence could still leave a mark.
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