The Roommates Who Never Existed

The professor was halfway through the attendance sheet when the ice settled in my chest. He hadn’t called Parker’s name.

"Excuse me," I said, my voice cutting through the hum of the lecture hall. "I think you skipped Parker. Parker Ward. He’s in this section."

Professor Miller didn't even look up from his tablet. His brow furrowed, a flicker of genuine annoyance crossing his face. "Please don’t disrupt the lesson, Mr. Vance. There is no Parker Ward on the roster for this course. There never has been."