It was the specific, breathless way she said my name. My heart hadn't known any bigger shock after my father's death. Was this really happening?
"Helena?" I whispered.
Helena. My ex-best friend. The girl who had been my shadow until two years ago, when she had vanished without a word, leaving me alone with numerous unanswered questions.
"Ellie, oh gods, it's you," Helena said. Her voice was shaking with so much emotion.
My lips shook. "Where… where are you? You left, Helena! You left me for two years! My father died two months ago. I needed you! I lost my baby, and you just... you weren't here!"
The shock I felt was evaporating for a searing white-hot pain.
"I know! Ellie, I can explain everything, I promise," she rushed out. "I heard what happened. I heard about Aurelius, and the baby. Oh, Ellie, baby. It must have been so hard."
"How could you hear anything? You're gone!"
