But the phone kept ringing, each ring sharper than the last, until she couldn't ignore it anymore. With a resigned sigh, she slid her trembling hand into her pocket, pulling out the cell phone and reluctantly looking at the illuminated screen. The missed calls and unread messages blinked before her eyes, each one a painful reminder from the world.

　　She considered ignoring everything, throwing the phone away and getting lost in the darkness. But something held her back, a ...