"You're not resigning."
"But I…"
"You're taking tomorrow off," Lily said firmly. "You're going to go home, rest, and stop trying to organize yourself into feeling better."
"The library event…"
"Is completely under control. Nina and I can handle the setup. You need a break."
"I'm fine…"
"Annabelle." Lily's voice was gentle but firm. "You're not fine. And it's okay to not be fine."
The kindness was worse than anger. Annabelle felt tears prickling behind her eyes.
"Come on." Lily walked over and took the clipboard out of Annabelle's hands. "Let's go to my office."
LILY'S OFFICE WAS warm and cozy. Annabelle sat in the chair across from Lily's desk and stared at her hands while Lily made tea.
"Here." Lily handed her a mug. "Drink."
Annabelle obeyed. The tea was too hot and tasted like nothing.
They sat in silence for a moment.
"Do you know why Raven left?" Lily asked finally.
"Her work was done." Annabelle's voice sounded hollow. "She came here to write an album. She found her music again. And now she has a career opportunity in London. A solo deal. She has to…" She stopped. "She had to go."
"Mmm." Lily sipped her own tea. "And did she want to go?"
"I don't…" Annabelle blinked. "I don't know."
"Did you ask her?"
"She said it was time. That this was always temporary."
"That's not what I asked."
Annabelle looked up. Lily was watching her with that wise, patient expression that made Annabelle feel about six years old.
"Perhaps," Lily said carefully, "Raven didn't know what she was leaving."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean that you've spent the last few weeks trying to be the solution to everyone's problems, including hers. You fixed the fundraiser. You defended her to the press. You organized everything around her so perfectly that maybe she never saw how much she mattered to you."
Annabelle's throat tightened. "I told her…"
"Did you? Or did you smile and say you understood and let her walk away because you were too scared to ask for what you wanted?"
The words hurt.
"You've been so busy trying to be perfect," Lily continued gently, "trying to never be a burden, never need too much, that you never let yourself be vulnerable enough to have needs of your own."
"I just wanted…" Annabelle's voice cracked. "I wanted her to stay because she wanted to, not because I guilted her into it."
"And that's admirable. But Annabelle, love isn't a fairy tale. You can't just expect someone to know what you're thinking or feeling. You have to actually communicate."
