Jeremiah took a deep breath and let it out slowly. He was exhausted, and his heart felt heavy in his chest. "Not tonight, Imani," he said. He just wanted to be alone with his thoughts.
"Especially tonight," Imani replied. Her voice wasn't mean or sharp. It was calm and steady, like someone who had made up her mind.
Jeremiah rubbed his face with his hand. He felt like he had aged ten years in a single day. "Imani—"
"No," she said, taking a small step toward him. "You can’t keep pushing this away. You can't wait until tomorrow to face the truth."
He looked at her then. He saw that she wasn't trying to start a fight. There was no anger in her eyes. But there was a lot of strength. She looked like she was ready for an honest conversation, even if it was a difficult one.
"She’s gone," Iman
