know.”

“I didn’t know they excluded you.”

“I believe you.”

She visibly relaxed.

Then I added, “But you noticed I wasn’t there.”

Her expression changed.

“Of course I noticed.”

“Did you wonder where I was?”

“Yes.”

“Did you text me?”

Her eyes dropped.

“No.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know.”

That answer hurt precisely because Leah wasn’t cruel.

My absence had been obvious.

She had continue reading …