Every time you looked at Abby, you felt warmth bubbling up inside of you. A genuine, cozy feeling that hugged your insides and made you feel safe. Safety, comfort, sincerity, fervor, zeal — words you associated with her. She was right there, in your heart, and right there in person too, ready to come to you whenever you needed.

Yet, you didn't know where to put all these feelings. Sometimes, they would spill, a little something that showed her how it all seemed to be a bit past friendship. How you two looked on the outside.

Dinner dates, movie dates, sleepovers, grocery shopping together, making gifts for each other, texting constantly, face-timing, cooking for each other, and visits at work. It all looked friendly if you didn't really look. But two glances at the two of you and the ticking bomb on each of your chests would bloom into view.

"Lev's been nagging me about this." she groans, her face scrunched up in a scowl as she waited for you to walk through the door she held open for you. "You know? I don't care about the other stuff, but I mean, he has friends, why can't they help?"

Again, she was complaining about her little brother and how she had to constantly be his "assistant" when he had to work on projects for school. You honestly didn't know what to say. Abby was always working, constantly busy with her restaurant, but being Lev's caregiver, she'd eventually have to help him with homework.

"You think he'll want these?" Abby asks, holding up the brown paper bag full of the leftover dumplings you two couldn't finish from the chinese restaurant you'd come to every other Thursday.