Erica sat at the table, twirling her fork idly through her salad as she glanced around the bustling restaurant. The clink of cutlery and murmur of conversation filled the air, a welcome distraction from the suffocating silence of her hotel room.
Across from her, Emily flashed a bright smile, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "It's so good to see you out and about, Erica," she exclaimed, reaching across the table to squeeze her friend's hand. "I was starting to worry you'd become a permanent fixture at that hotel!"
Erica chuckled weakly, grateful for Emily's lighthearted demeanor. "Believe me, I was starting to worry about that too," she admitted, a hint of bitterness tainting her words. "But I couldn't stand another moment cooped up in that room."
Emily's smile faltered, her gaze soft
