Dictated Moans

Goodbye friends

The sun had barely crested the horizon when Cassie pulled the car into the terminal’s drop-off zone. The early morning was quiet, the kind that held anticipation and goodbye in the same breath.

Emily yawned as she reached into the backseat for her duffel. “Remind me why I thought starting an internship on a Monday was a good idea?”

“Because you’re over-ambitious,” Sarah replied, pulling out her suitcase. “And a go-getter.”

Cassie gave them a tired smile as she turned off the ignition. “And because you didn’t want to miss orientation. You said that at least five times yesterday.”

“Ugh, don’t remind me.” Emily shut the door behind her and stood on the curb. “I’m already feeling the corporate doom.”

Sarah leaned back into the window. “You sure you’ll be okay by yourself?”

Cassie nodded, but it took a moment. “Yeah. I’ll be okay.”

Sarah didn’t look convinced. “I can stay another day or two. Change my flight. You just say the word.”

“No,” Cassie said, firmer this time. “Go get ready for your internship. Plus Em’s starting tomorrow. You two have your lives to get back to. And I want you to keep her out of trouble. I’ll be fine, I promise.”

“You sure?” Emily asked, looping the strap of her bag over her shoulder.

"I am sure. Besides, I have Asher here with me," Cassie said.

"Okay, but make sure to text us or we will board the next flight back," Sarah threatened with a fond smile.

"I know someone with a private jet. He can get us here within minutes," Emily added.

"Who has...You know what, never mind. Come here," Sarah pulled both Emily and Cassie to her.

They huddled into a hug, arms tight, breathing in the scent of each other’s shampoo and familiarity. Cassie’s throat burned, but she didn’t let the tears fall; not until she pulled back and saw that Sarah’s eyes were shining too.

“I’ll miss you guys,” she said, her voice catching.

“We’ll call every day,” Sarah promised.

“And spam your inbox with memes and job listings,” Emily added.

They exchanged one last round of hugs, longer this time. Then the announcement for their flight echoed through the terminal.

“We better go,” Emily whispered. “Or I’m going to start crying too hard to get through security.”

Sarah touched Cassie’s cheek. “You call if you need anything. Anything.”

“I will.”

They wheeled their suitcases through the automatic doors, glancing back just once before they disappeared inside.

Cassie stood by the curb a long moment after they were gone, arms crossed over her chest, suddenly aware of how cool the wind felt without their presence beside her.

Back at the house, the silence was heavy. Again.

Cassie wandered through the living room, the soft sound of her footsteps swallowed by plush carpet and the occasional creak of the stairs. The guest room doors were open and empty, their beds neatly made.

Gone. Just like that.

She wasn’t sad exactly, just hollow. She poured herself a glass of water she didn’t drink, stared out the window for a few minutes, then paced the kitchen like she was looking for something to do.

And that’s when she smelled it; Chocolate.

She turned toward the source and found Marla, the housekeeper, setting down a large slice of tantalizing chocolate cake on a plate. Steam still clung to the frosting from the fresh oven heat.

“I thought you could use this,” Marla said gently. “Figured today might feel... empty.”

Cassie blinked. “Marla, bless your heart.”

Marla smiled, warm and motherly. “I know. Now eat it before it gets cold.”

Cassie didn’t wait. She sat at the counter and grabbed the fork, shoveling a large bite into her mouth with all the grace of someone desperate to fill the void.

That was how Asher found her—mid-bite, mouth full, crumbs on her lips.

He raised an amused brow. “Well, someone’s dealing with separation in the healthiest way possible.”

Cassie didn’t even try to defend herself. She simply gestured to the cake with the fork. “It’s chocolate. It’s medicinal.”

Asher laughed and leaned against the island. “Marla sure knows how to take care of her 'children'.”

“Want a bite?” Cassie asked, nudging the plate toward him.

“Nah. Had a lunch meeting. I’m stuffed.”

Cassie narrowed her eyes suspiciously. “With who? A woman?”

“Haha, not that kind of meeting,” He paused, then added, “I was with Reggie.”

She blinked. “Reggie? Your fancy CEO friend?” Cassie had never met the man but had heard Asher speak about him fondly, once or twice.

“The very one,” Asher said, tugging a small notebook from his jacket pocket and tossing it on the counter beside her. “I told him about you. He was intrigued.”

Cassie set down her fork. “Intrigued how?”

“He owns several companies; marketing, tech, a wellness brand that’s just taken off. He says he’s got a couple openings for interns, depending on your area of interest.”

Cassie’s heart did a little hop in her chest. “Wait. Are you serious?”

“I don’t joke about my favorite sister,” Asher said, his expression softening.

"I am your only sister," Cassie playfully pointed at him with the fork.

“Anyway, I sent him your resume last night. He wants to meet you,” Asher said.

“Oh my God.” She covered her mouth, trying not to scream through a mouthful of cake. “Ash, this is...Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me yet. You still have to impress him.”

“I will,” she said quickly. “I mean, I’ll try. I’ll be ready.” A wave of anxiety washed through her but it dissipated as quick as it had come when Asher smirked at her.

“That’s my little sister.”

Cassie beamed, a little dazed by the sudden shift in her future. “When is the meeting?”

“Wednesday. You have a few days to mentally prepare. Andto finish the cake.” He gestured into her plate.

Cassie laughed. “The cake is the easiest part.”

She pushed another bite into her mouth, heart racing with a mix of nerves and excitement. The gap left by her friends hadn’t closed, not really, but it had shifted. Now there was something else there. A spark of something forward-moving.

Hope.