Emma woke up to the sound of her phone buzzing insistently on the bedside table. She glanced at the screen through bleary eyes and saw her best friend, Sarah, calling. With a tired sigh, she swiped to answer and propped herself up on the pillows.
"Happy birthday, Em!" Sarah's cheerful voice rang out through the speaker. "How's my birthday girl doing?"
Emma forced a smile, though it didn't reach her eyes. "Thanks, Sarah. Just... you know, another year older."
Sarah's face fell as she took in Emma's appearance. "Em, you look so thin and pale. Have you relapsed to your college years?"
Emma's facade crumbled, and tears welled up in her eyes. She couldn't hold back any longer. "Sarah, I... I can't do this anymore. Can we meet up? I really need to talk."
"Of course, Em. Let's meet at our fa
