Emily opened the curtain and walked back into Amy's reading nook half an hour later looking shell shocked, and sat on the window seat, staring at the wall. Amy slowly put her book down and waited for Emily to speak. Trying as hard as she could to be still, Amy couldn't help chewing her cuticles, but the click of her teeth didn't seem to faze Emily this time. Her frustrated gasp at herself and the situation seemed to finally snap Emily out of her stupor, though when she locked eyes with her best friend, all she could do at first was to shake her head slowly.
"I can't," Emily choked out before her throat closed around a lump. She swallowed hard and tried again. "I can't bring you into this. I won't leave him for something no one could have predicted or controlled." She paused for another lo
