—Mabel—

The tears wouldn't stop rolling down my face. The more I wiped them, the more they came gushing.

An ache pushed my heart, but it was nothing compared to the lump forming in my throat.

“Hello, Mabel. Can you hear me?” came Ruth's voice through the phone.

I'd forgotten the call was still on.

Sniffling, I straightened up on the chair. “Y-yes, Ruth. I can hear you.”

“I'm so sorry you're going through this,” she whispered, her voice laced with sorrow.

“I was going to tell ...