The silence between them was heavy—almost too heavy. It hung in the air like a fog, thick with unspoken words
"Hmmmmmmmmmm….. Why didn't you tell me this, Ann?" Felicia's voice broke the silence, shaky but firm.
Ann looked away, trying to muster courage. "Felicia, I didn't know how you'd take it. You… you're always so bold and strong. I— I cared about my face, okay?" she finally said, adding a nervous laugh to soften her confession.
Felicia blinked. "How will I explain these horrible things to you?" she whispered.
"No worries," Ann replied dramatically, trying to make light of the moment. "I never knew you didn't idolize our friendship."
"What does that even mean?" Ann asked defensively, folding her arms, but her heart was already racing.
"I mean," Felicia began, letting a slow sigh escape her lips, "if you really valued what we had—the way I thought you did—you would have told me immediately. Not let me find out through someone else.".