Chapter 65

SERAPHINA “I need to talk to you,” I said. “Please. Just... give me five minutes.” She looked at me for a moment, then stepped back, letting me in. Her room was a mess—unlike Callista's usual neatness. There was a pile of used tissues on the bedside table, a half-empty glass of water, and a laptop open with Netflix still playing. “Callista,” I started, but my voice trembled. Seeing her up close like this, seeing how tired and sad she was, made all the emotions I'd been holding back for a week spill out. “I’m sorry,” I said, and tears started streaming down my face. “I’m so, so sorry. I know you’re hurt, and I know you feel betrayed, and you’re right. You’re right to be angry. You’re right to feel hurt. We were wrong not to tell you, and I—” I couldn't continue because the tears suddenly hit me hard. All the guilt, all the sadness, all the longing for my best friend—it all came out at once. “I miss you,” I sobbed. "I miss you so much. I miss our laughter, I miss our stories, I miss... u