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~Aria~
I stared at the notification and then the guilt hit me like cold water.
Josie.
My best friend since the first week of Harvard, the woman who had talked me through every crisis, every exam, every moment of doubt for the past four years, had texted me days ago and I had left it completely unread.
Not on purpose. Everything had just been so overwhelming, but that wasn't an excuse not to talk to her. Josie did not do unanswered texts. Nobody who loved you did.
I was already calling before I even thought of what I could say to her
It rang twice before she picked up the call.
"Well." Her voice came through the speaker like a verdict. "Look who finally remembered she has a best friend."
"Josie…"
"No, no. Take your time. It's fine. I'll just be here. Existing. Alone. In my ap
