Empire of Nothing

The letter sat on the porch railing.

Unopened. Unimportant.

Nova didn't even glance at it again as she walked past.

She had better things to do.

Inside, the living room was already loud — Sasha yelling at Kieran for cheating at cards, Zane flipping through a playlist, popcorn flying somewhere in the background.

Nova stepped through the door and smiled like nothing had happened.

Because honestly?

Nothing had.

Ethan had come. He had spoken. But he hadn't changed a thing.

Not her peace. Not her people. Not her night.

Zane looked up. "Everything okay?"

"Yep," she said, kicking off her shoes. "Let's ruin Kieran at Uno."

Kieran gasped. "Excuse me?"

Nova flopped onto the floor. "You heard me, big brother wannabe."

Sasha cackled. "Oh, she is one of us now."

Zane tossed her a card deck. "Deal it, Poké."

She did — badly — with cards flying off the edge of the table, which only made everyone laugh harder.

By round two, she was wrapped in a blanket like a burrito.

By round four, she was mock-fighting Zane over who had the Draw Four.

By round six?

She'd forgotten the letter even existed.

Outside, the wind knocked the envelope off the railing.

It tumbled down the steps, unnoticed.

Unopened.

Unimportant.

Because Nova had already made her choice—

And this?

This was where she belonged.