Emily
I touched the earrings instinctively the moment Vivian’s voice echoed in my mind.
Your earrings are beautiful.
My fingers brushed over the delicate gold, tracing the familiar curve. They were simple—elegant without being loud. Small diamonds inlaid carefully, catching light only when one looked closely.
Adrian had given them to me.
The memory surfaced so vividly that for a second, the noise of the departing cars and polite farewells faded.
It had been one of those nights I stayed over at his place.
We had been lying in bed, the room dim except for the warm bedside lamp. My head rested against his chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat while he absentmindedly ran his fingers through my hair.
He had gone quiet for a while.
Too quiet.
Then suddenly, he shifted,
