Bella

We talked a little more, about nothing important, just the kind of small talk that felt like medicine, and then she said goodnight and ended the call. I sat there for a minute, staring at the dark screen, letting the words settle. Not stage two. Not even close. There was still time. There was still hope.

I climbed under the covers, suddenly bone-tired. Lara still wasn’t back. Was she really not coming home tonight? My phone buzzed a second later. It was a text from her.

Lara: won't be back tonite. at the club w some ppl. talk tmrw

I stared at the message, thumb hovering over the keyboard....