[Guess what! I changed my flight!!! Meet me at our old spot this afternoon. You owe me a dinner, and I'm collecting today.]
The string of exclamation points from Sophia felt like a defiant beam of sunlight, cutting right through Avery's gloom. For the first time in days, the high-tension wire in her brain slackened. Thinking of Sophia, a small smile tugged at Avery's lips; she could almost hear her friend's fast-paced, laugh-filled grumbling through the screen.
She quickly typed back: "No problem. Send me the address. I'm heading out now."
Setting her phone down, Avery sat at her vanity. The woman in the mirror looked weary. She picked up a comb and pulled it through her hair; the resistance at the dry ends made her wince. She hadn't spared a thought for her appearance in months. She us
