March 5, 2026.
It happened on a Wednesday.
Mia texted mid-afternoon.
Mia: Coffee after work? Just us. Miss my best friend.
I stared at the message.
Damien was in a meeting. I didn’t ask him.
I replied: Me: Sure. The usual place? 6?
Mia: Perfect.
The café was the one we’d gone to since college—cozy booths, good lattes, quiet enough to talk.
I arrived first. Ordered for both of us—her vanilla latte, my caramel.
She walked in five minutes later, cheeks pink from the cold, smile big.
Hugged me tight.
“God, I’ve missed you.”
“Missed you too.”
We sat in our old booth.
Small talk first—work, her latest project, my freelance wins.
Then she stirred her latte, eyes on the foam.
“Lila.”
I froze.
“Yeah?”
She looked up. Soft. No anger.
Just worry.
“Are you okay?”
I nodded. Too fa
