la's
ing somewhere between
rst, I
oices. I tightened my hold on the sonogram printouts and kept walking, my gaze fixed ahead, as if ignoring it wou
stop
wind brushing past my ears, the faint hu
t start
eached into my coat pocket. My fingers brushed against the
op
e surface, something that loosened the tightn
er and lifted the
edged with amusement. "I was about to assume you had finally decided to a
ost turned into a laugh. "Th
ncts," she replied lightly. "Tell me where you are so I can send som
d at the unfamiliar street before
an appointment," I sai
her end. Not long enough to feel h
this time. "That sounds important. Shoul
tracing the edge of the paper in my ha
ly be concerned about," she said, her tone sharpening just
ly, staring up at the pale st
o a clinic
to about a hundred possibilities, none of which I am parti
h, my fingers tightenin
fine, S
ce str
ce carried something steadier,
.. reassuring, but you can tell me
eyes briefly.
he lines of 'I do not know what to do,' I am going to interrupt you with s
corner of my mouth lifted
said without hesitation. "N
en check, but-" I stopped, my throat
he prompt
ed. "There
Of course there is. You never do anythi
t trembled at the edges
this time, and she had
?" she
ven though she cou
ed again, a hint of
tened on the
lowly. "As in... four s
Ye
ugh and a sharp inhale. "I leave you alone for five m
ugh, the tension in my c
oph
ing again. "Four is impressive. Overachiever b
of the street trying not to pa
ately. "Because I refuse to let you spiral alone. Tell
ssing my shoulder more fi
admitted. "I can barely keep track of my own life
take care of them," she pointed out. "Which
breath. "It does
simply. "If it felt easy, I
uts again, the faint outlines
were here,"
ed you somewhere warm, ordered food you pretend not to like, and forced you t
hink food solv
y. "Or at the very least, it makes
out, surprising me wi
mediately. "That sound. I was starting t
my voice quieter now. "It just.
" she sai
nt, neither
r throat lightly. "H
around the phone. "No. I do not even
aid. "And I would prefer she hears it from you b
of that," I r
teased. "We l
espite myself. "You
m, your favorite pe
is deba
name. "If you try to replace me,
caped me again,
dded. "Call Mum. I am not
tened at the sug
d. "You are already carrying enough. You do no
s briefly, stead
," I said
faction threading through h
ther to the call. The ringing felt louder this
ied that familiar warmth that alwa
ie? Is everyt
tightening on both the
oice wavered. "I mean... I
use, then a softer to
reath that fel
I continued, before I could lose the
eath on the other line, li
r voice steady, though I could h
Fo
e, something like a quiet laugh
repeated. "
aiting for the questions, the
aid gently, "Ar
know yet,"
eplied. "You do not have
t, approving noise
reath, my shoulders
other continued. "Step by step.
," I sai
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