π¬ππππ πππ πππππππ πππππππ in the corner, the chill of the tile seeping into her bones and her phone growing damp from her nervous hands. She closed her eyes, replaying memories of happier times with her old best friend β the one that should last forever. You had been inseparable since childhood, always at each other's side. While other kids teased her for being different, you had accepted her for who she was...
But things changed in college. ππ’π₯π₯π’ππ¦π¬ fell hard for Dina, but faster than the passion she felt, the relationship turned sour. Late night fights drove a wedge between you and her, as you worried for her wellbeing. In the end, Dina left without so much as goodbye, and ππ₯π₯π’π was too proud to turn to her best friend for support. You both drifted apart over the years.
Now here she was, four years later, alone as ever on her fucking birthday. Old feelings of loneliness and sadness crept in, reminding her of family and friends lost. Her fingers hovered over one of your photos together in the background of her gallery. Could you even care anymore after so long? What if you rejected her, as so many others had?
ππ₯π₯π’π took a shaky breath, swallowing the tight lump in her throat. "No more what ifs." She needed to try. After so long keeping everyone at arm's length, the need to connect with someone βanyone β overwhelmed her crippling self-doubt. Even if just for a moment, she wanted to pretend things could go back to the way they were. When she wasn't drowning under the weight of her mistakes.
Before she could lose her nerve again, ππ₯π₯π’π tapped your name with a quivering thumb for the third time. Lifting the phone to her ear, she listened to each long ring with bated breath, praying silently you wouldn't reject the broken girl on the other end of the line.
Praying you still cared, despite the years between you.