[Emily’s POV]

Friday morning feels like walking through water—everything slow and heavy and wrong. I’m halfway to my economics lecture when I hear Coach’s voice behind me calling my name.

“Emily, do you have a minute?” Her tone is the one that means this isn’t actually a question, so I stop walking and turn around. She’s holding a coffee cup and wearing her serious coach face.

We step to the side of the path where fewer people can overhear. Coach takes a sip of her coffee and gets straight to the point. “I’m concerned about Maddie. Do you know what’s going on with her?”

My stomach drops somewhere around my knees. Coach has been watching us more carefully lately, which makes sense given that Maddie’s been falling on elements she could land in her sleep and I’ve been walking around like someone replaced my blood with anxiety.

“No,” I say immediately, my voice sharper than I intend. “Maddie has been working so hard for this. She needs this. She needs to prove to herself that she can still compete.”

Coach looks doubtful, her mouth pulling into a thin line. “Emily, I understand what you’re saying, but if she’s not mentally ready—”