softened into a pale morning glow, and San Francisco stretched out below, alive but distant. They didn

the shadow of a eucalyptus tree with a phone u

d the car, her voice cutting through the

t in it. Still, Ellie's hopeful grin was ha

plied, like it was the o

ecloths, and the smell of fish and sourdough. Since they were little, he'd dragged them there when he was too tired to cook, laughing l

, loud, timeless. They choosed a table by the window, the leather creaking as they sat. The waite

able. "Remember when Dad spilled

d, but he kept that tie. Sa

her hair. It hurt, but it felt good too."He always got that Hangtown fry

, 'Try it, you'll love it!' even when we gagged." She pau

hand. "Me too. But he'd be proud

ie tacked on a big pizza, her phone buzzing with a text she hid from Nora. "For later," she said with a shrug, all sneaky.While they waited, Ellie kept it light...stories of Dad burning cak

Street...glass walls, fancy lights. Nora's breath caught. Caleb had taken her there for her last birthday, swapping their u

, whispering, "I'm proposing in five months, Ellie. Something big, maybe on the hill. I just want it so per

t in thought. The radio buzzed

the living room, smiling wide. "You're back!" she said, pulling Nora

ouch, coffee mugs in hand, looking sheepish

e they were...her best friends, impossible to dodge.

aid, nodding at her. "Sh

o big deal. Nora wanted to snap, but Maya and Lila's worr

voided Caleb's name like it was poison, and Nora played along, nodding, laughing when she should. But inside, she was crumbling.Then Maya slammed her pizza down, eyes blazing.

t the bowl. He

ase up. We don't know everything.

ean. It's not that hard to find a bitch in this city.

top," she whispered,

aying, she

of my fucking life. He's gone. I can't ask him why, I can't fix it. I loved him, he broke me,

fell. "Nora,

cracking. "Please."Lila tr

d, turning away,

slice as they headed out. They kissed Nora's mom goodbye, m

under her blanket, curled up, crying quietly. The bed d

led. "Please, Mom. I'll come

e blanket tighter. "I'm here when you need me," she

, grief...it all tangled together, too heavy to unravel. Cale