Right now, both Joy and Carmela were silently wondering the same thing.
How long are we supposed to hold this?
Should I let go first?
But even as they thought about it, either moved.
Joy's expression was composed but her mind was spinning.
She didn't want to break the moment abruptly, yet she also had no idea how to gracefully end it.
Carmela, on the other hand, was stiff as a board, her arms awkwardly looped around Joy's back as if she was holding a fragile glass statue.
The silence stretched.
Then, mercifully, a faint sound came from behind a nearby tree—the sound of someone trying, and failing, to stifle a sniffle.
Both women immediately froze and turned their heads.
The faint noise continued—a choked sob, quickly followed by what sounded like someone hurriedly wiping their nose.
They exchanged a look.
Joy let go of Carmela and got up immediately, her composure returning as she raised her voice.
"Who's there?" She called out sharply. "Come out."
