Chapter 112

I met Erin at a small corner café later that morning, after dropping Lily off at school. The place smelled like cinnamon rolls and fresh coffee, and there was a gentle hum of people chatting and typing away on laptops. I spotted Erin near the window, already seated, her hair pinned up and her blazer as crisp as ever. Her expression was serious. I felt a knot begin to form in my stomach. She looked up as I approached and stood to hug me quickly. “Hey. Sit down, Haley.” I slid into the seat across from her, trying to read her face. “Everything okay?” She didn’t answer right away. Instead, she opened her tablet and pulled up a page. “Have you checked the comments on your comic lately?” I blinked. “No. I’ve been too busy.” Erin took a deep breath and turned the screen toward me. “You might want to see this.” There they were. Comment after comment after comment. Negative. Sharp. Cruel. “She clearly doesn’t know how to write.” “Another pretty face thinking she can draw.” “This is garbage. Wh