The Doubt Lingers

Elira

I stare hard at Vera after asking my direct question about her so-called trip. Her face is tight and defensive, her eyes darting anxiously for a second before she manages to look back at me.

The extreme tension in her shoulders is so incredibly obvious it almost makes me laugh out loud.

“You look so incredibly funny, Vera,” I say at last, my voice light but clearly teasing. “Why do you look so tremendously nervous about this trip?”

Her lips twitch briefly, but ...