Emily lowered her phone from her ear, her face blank as the silence on the other end confirmed what she already knew: Claire hadn’t picked up.
Maybe she was busy, Emily told herself, clinging to the excuse like a fragile thread.
But her thoughts betrayed her.
What if Claire was upset with her?
The memory of their last exchange resurfaced uninvited. Claire had reached out, apologizing, asking for forgiveness. But Emily hadn’t been ready. She’d let the silence stretch between them for a while now, her pride holding her back from bridging the gap.
Now, with the phone in her hand, Emily felt the weight of regret settle on her chest. Had she pushed away the only person who still cared? She sighed deeply, shaking her head to dispel the thoughts, but they clung to her like cobwebs.
