Lola Has Changed

Emory

I knock on the door of Lola’s bedroom. There’s loud music playing from inside. When I don’t hear a response, I knock on the door again. There’s still no response.

“Lola?” I call out. “It’s me. Can I come in?”

“What do you want?” she demands.

“I’m back from Moon Grove. I just wanted to see you.”

There’s an audible sigh. “Fine.”

I open the door, and the smile freezes on my face when I see Lola. She’s seated on the settee reading through a comic book. Her long dirty blonde hair has been chopped short and unevenly which makes me think she cut it herself. There’s a lone streak of red that stands out against the dark blonde.

“Hey,” I say, trying not to freak out at her change of appearance. “How have you been?”

She glances up from the comic book she’s reading for a second before flipping to the……