The person I called was someone I had known for a long time. Long enough that the silence between us didn't feel awkward, even when it lingered for a few seconds too long.
Ella.
She stood there when she arrived, hands clasped together in front of her, shoulders slightly stiff like she wasn't sure whether she should relax or brace herself. Her eyes flicked toward me, then away, then back again.
"Um… why did you call me?" she asked.
Her voice was cautious, but familiar. The kind of voice that reminded me of quieter days, back when everything felt simpler and nobody really expected much from anyone.
I looked at her for a moment longer than necessary, not because I was trying to make things awkward, but because the thought hit me again—clear and undeniable.
She really was perfect for this.
