Sarah didn't speak at first, she just stared at me, eyes wide, frozen like she was trying to absorb what I'd said. Then slowly, she stood up, circled the table, and slid into the seat beside me.
"Oh, Aria," she whispered, her voice trembling with practiced gentleness. "I'm so, so sorry that happened."
The words broke something in me. I pressed my hand over my mouth as tears spilled down my face, my body folding toward her shoulder.
Sarah's arm wrapped around me, firm and possessive, her perfume enveloping me until I couldn't tell where she ended and I began. "Maybe it was for the best," she murmured softly, brushing her fingers through my hair. "Some things just… aren't meant to be. And you have me, okay? You'll always have me."
I nodded into her shoulder, my voice breaking. "It's my fault," I whispered. "I should've—"
