(Matthew’s Point of View)
The phone's incessant ringing was a jarring intrusion, the vibrations a physical force that shattered the stillness.
Esther stood by the counter, watching me. There was no avoiding it. The air was thick with unspoken words, the space between us charged. Her eyes, those gentle, probing eyes, were fixed on me, silently demanding a decision. A confession.
But I wasn't sure I was prepared.
The phone buzzed again. That unfamiliar number, a taunt on the screen, brought the past rushing back, a past I couldn't escape. It had found me, and it was ugly. A heaviness settled in my chest, a physical reminder of what I'd done.
I didn't want to pick up.
I couldn't. But honestly, I wasn't convinced I could keep it at bay indefinitely.
I inhaled deeply, my fingers poised o
