Bella's chest still felt so heavy it almost hurt. Her eyes were raw from crying and her hands shook as she wiped at her damp cheeks. She tried to breathe calmly when her phone on the side table buzzed with Scarlett's name flashing brightly.
With a trembling hand, Bella pressed answer. She pressed the phone to her ear and tried so hard to make her voice sound normal — cheerful, even.
"H-hello…" she croaked, but her throat burned and the word came out small and hoarse. Her nose was so red she sniffled without meaning to.
On the other end, Scarlett's voice snapped like a whip. "Bella? What's wrong with you? Why is your voice like that? Are you crying?!"
"N-nothing happened, Scar… really. I'm okay," Bella lied, her lips quivering as she tried to force a smile that Scarlett couldn't even see. "I'm just— I'm okay…"
