n Wol

Kamryn' s parents, all polite smiles and probing questions, sat opposite us, their eyes constantly assessing, calculating. Kamryn, radiant in a blus

rved, her perfectly manicured hand reaching across the table to

cticed reflex. "Just a

r perhaps, irritation. "You've been working so hard, H. Sometimes I wo

champagne. My gaze kept drifting to my phone, lying face do

et, almost too sweet. "She hasn't been returning my calls either. She us

id, a little too sharply. "She's an adult

ession. "Because when I called her, she didn't seem particularly... responsive. And I t

y stomach. "You called he

nsitive. I just thought she might appreciate an invitation to the party, a little olive branch,

ded. "And wha

hasn't replied to my messages. Maybe she's busy with her own plans." She gave me another on

envisioned for her. It was a cold, hard wall. A complete absence. She w

nd of pain that made it hard to breathe. No. This w

ck up and move on. Not cling to the past, like some people." Her gaze flickered to me, a hint of something knowing in her eyes. "You know, if you re

Call her? What would I even say? Come back, Chelsea. I miss your constant presence.

y voice rough. "She always does

r are you just trying to convince yourself?" She shook her head. "Some

ing truth from a woman I b

a glossy brochure for wedding venues. "Let's talk about our wedding! Have you decided

floral arrangements. Unforgettable. All I could think of was C

g wrong?" Kamryn ask

id, my voice flat,

ation, freezing the smiles on Kamryn's parents' faces. Kamryn s

g?" she finally managed, he

hair, the scrape echoing in the sudden sile

ble, laden with exquisite food and delicate rose petals, seemed to mock her. I w

my engagement, my carefully constructed future, because of a ghost. Because of a silence that was louder than any scr