Carol was leaning against her car when I came out. It had only been a day since I last saw her but it felt like a week already. A painful week.

She wore a loose pink hoodie and her short blonde hair was pulled up in a messy bun. The sight of her made my chest tighten. I hadn’t realized how much I missed her until now.

“Hey,” she said when our eyes met.

I let out a slow sigh “Hey”

She tilted her head, studying me. “You look tired. Puffy eyes and all. Didn’t sleep?”

I shook my ...