Leah sat on the couch, scrolling through her phone as the afternoon sun poured through the window. The house was quiet with just the TV sounds of soft music, with Richie out having meetings here and there,working with clients. She found herself in a rare moment of solitude. She sipped on her coffee absentmindedly, her mind drifting until it landed on Mariam.

It had been weeks since she last spoke to her, and she suddenly realized how much she missed her friend. She remembered the last time they were together—when she introduced Richie to Mariam, Mrs. Adams and Grandmother. They had laughed, shared stories, and for a brief moment, everything...