The heavy scent of old paper and floor wax filled the school library, a stark contrast to the buzzing neon lights of the hallway. Dima sat at a corner table, his forehead resting against the cool, glossy cover of .
The next day, during the seminar, Dima didn't give the "correct" answer from the textbook. He gave his own. For the first time all year, the teacher didn't just check a box in her grade book; she actually stopped to listen.
Lena blinked, surprised. "That’s not in the GDZ. The guide says he represents the 'decay of the landed gentry'."
"Actually," Dima said, pushing the phone back toward Lena. "I think I get why he doesn't want to get up. The world outside is loud, and his bed is... safe."