Annabelle fidgeted with her phone, her fingers brushing over Natasha’s name in her contact list.

Guilt gnawed at her like a persistent ache.

She hesitated for a moment, staring at the screen.

The memory of Natasha’s near-death experience haunted her, and the thought that she could have done something, anything, to prevent it weighed heavily on her.

Taking a deep breath, she pressed the call button.

It rang twice before Natasha’s familiar voice answered.

“Annabelle?” Natasha sounded hesitant as if bracing for bad news.

“Hey,” Annabelle said softly, her voice cracking. “Can we talk?”

There was a pause on the other end before Natasha replied, “Sure, what’s up?”

“I just...”...