Amara glanced at her watch, feeling a mix of anticipation and concern. The restaurant's warm ambiance did little to ease her worries. She had been waiting for Rosie for over twenty minutes, and her thoughts kept circling back to the troubled tone in Rosie's voice during their earlier phone conversation. Rosie had sounded upset, her voice cracking as she explained that she wouldn't be able to meet Amara for lunch but would join her for dinner instead.
The soft hum of conversations and clinking cutlery filled the room, but Amara's attention was fixed on the entrance. When Rosie finally walked in, Amara's heart sank. Rosie looked pale and thinner than Amara remembered. Her usually vibrant eyes were swollen, evidence of countless tears shed.
"Rosie," Amara said softly, standing up to embrace
