Julie started speaking as Ava walked closer, her voice thick with guilt.
"Ah, my dear, I'm so sorry I left you out there. I totally forgot. I'm really sorry," Julie said, her shoulder slumping, voice low with guilt.
"It's okay. I already waited, my dear. You don't have to keep saying that," Ava replied with a warm smile, pulling Julie into a soft hug.
"But it's really bad to leave someone out like that. I feel terrible." I just left you out there for thirty whole minutes…" Julie said, her eyebrows drawn together.
Ava's smile deepened, amused by her friend's persistence.
"My ever-kind Julie," she said, but her voice rose slightly as she snapped, "Would you stop feeling guilty already? For God's sake, it's in the past.
" I've already done the long wait. What matters now is that I've finally met you. Just don't forget about it next time, okay?"
Julie nodded quickly. "I won't. Never. Brain, you hear me?" she said, patting her temple as if talking directly to her brain.
