“She’s not here,” my mom says from behind the counter.
“What?”
“Alice. You’ve got that look you get when you’re looking for someone.”
I walk over to the counter. “Has she been in today?”
“Yesterday. Ordered her usual and sat in her usual corner. She seemed quieter than usual. Didn't stay long.”
That confirms it. Alice is definitely not okay.
“Everything alright between you two?” Mom asks, wiping down the counter.
“I'm not sure.”
“Want to talk about it?”
I consider it for a moment. She's already pouring me a hot chocolate—her way of saying she's got time if I need it. But this feels too complicated to get into right now.
“It's complicated.”
“Most things are.” She slides the mug across to me. “But if she's upset about something, maybe she just needs some space to figure things out.”
“What if giving her space makes things worse?”
“Then you’ll deal with it. But sometimes the best thing you can do for someone is let them come to you when they’re ready.”
I take the hot chocolate and find a table near the window. I'd drink this stuff even if it were a hundred degrees outside. Outside, people are walking home from work, and kids are playing in the small park across the street. Normal life continuing while everything feels off-balance.
My phone buzzes with a text from Alice.
Alice: How was your day?
I stare at the message for a long moment. It’s the first time she’s texted me first since our conversation in Nora’s office.
Me: Long. How about yours?
Alice: Same. Busy.
One-word answers. Yeah, something's definitely wrong.
Me: Want to grab dinner? Or I can pick something up and bring it over.
The typing indicator appears and disappears several times before her response comes through.
Alice:I should probably stay home tonight. Maybe next time.
And there it is. Another polite excuse, another rain check. I set my phone down harder than I mean to.
Part of me wants to drive to her house right now and make her have a real conversation with me. I miss talking to her when it was actually talking, not just polite small talk.
Me: Of course. Let me know if you need anything.
Alice: Thank you. I will.
I type out"Alice, talk to me. Please."but delete it before sending. Pushing her will only make her pull away more.
She won’t ask for help. That’s the problem.She probably thinks she’s protecting me by staying away. Doesn’t she realize that losing her would hurt more than any complaint Tracy could file? Maybe she doesn’t see it the way that I do.
