The late afternoon sun cast shadows across the living room, making everything look yellow.
Rose sat curled up by the window, staring at her powered-off phone as if it might bite her.
Her thoughts spun in endless, dizzying circles.
She hadn’t turned it on since hanging up on Christian.
The silence between them now felt like a heavy weight pressing down on her chest.
She wasn't ready.
Part of her whispered that maybe she was being unfair, that she should at least hear him out.
But another, louder part, the hurt part refused.
Not yet.
Maybe not ever.
Across from her, Evelyn watched her carefully, twirling the string of her hoodie around her finger.
The television played some sitcoms in the background, but neither of them paid attention.
Evelyn broke the silence first. “Are you goi
