Ellie.
My pulse jumped.
Her first message contained seven words.
You kept my name out of it.
I read it twice.
Then:
You still talked about me.
The warmth disappeared as quickly as it had arrived.
I typed:
Yes. I’m sorry. I should have stopped sooner.
Three dots appeared.
Stopped.
Returned.
Ellie:You said you hurt me.
Me:That answer was about what I did.
Ellie:It still told millions of people there was something to hurt.
She was right.
Rachel glanced at me.
“Bad?”
“Complicated.”
“That was expected.”
I looked back at the screen.
Me:You’re right.
I deleted it before sending.
Me:It did. I didn’t think far enough ahead.
The response took longer.
In the hallway, Sophie spoke to Richard with the rigid calm of someone mentally throwing objects.
Studio employees passed us carrying cables and coffee.
Finally, Ellie replied.
Ellie:You didn’t call me your friend.
