Chapter 342
Olivia was surprised to see a message from Sophie. It had been so long since they’d last spoken—and now she was using a new number. How did Sophie even find it? she wondered.
Her surprise didn’t last long. Soon, a different worry took its place: How should I reply?
After a moment of hesitation, she kept her message simple:
[I’m fine.]
Sophie replied almost immediately:
[I got your new number from Claude. Why didn’t you tell me? Are you still mad at me or something?]
Olivia stared at the screen. Mad? No… those feelings were long gone. It wasn’t anger that kept her distant—it was life itself. Things had changed. They were no longer walking the same path, no longer in the same world.
Holding the phone tightly, Olivia slowly typed:
[No. I’ve just been really busy.]
Another message followed right away:
[How about we meet up?]
Olivia froze. Meet? She didn’t know how to answer.
Then another text came through, light and familiar:
[We haven’t seen each other for soooo long! I miss you.]
A wave of mixed emotions washed over Olivia. She began typing “I’m still busy” but hesitated, then deleted it.
I can’t avoid her forever.
Finally, after a long pause, she replied:
[We’ll do something like that the next time I’m free.]
But again, her thumb hovered over the send button. After another moment of thought, she erased the line and replaced it with:
[Alright. Where?]
Sophie responded quickly:
[A café?]
[Okay.]
[Great! I’ll text you the location tomorrow. Can’t wait to see you!]
Olivia closed her eyes and clutched the phone to her chest. Despite everything… Sophie is still someone I can talk to.
The rest of the day passed uneventfully.
The next morning, Olivia woke feeling a bit better. The swelling in her foot had eased, and for the first time in a while, she managed to walk downstairs on her own, leaving her wheelchair behind.
One step at a time, she reminded herself.
“Mom?” she called out when she saw Ana in the living room. “I’m going out today.”
Ana looked up, surprised. Olivia rarely went out on her own.
“Where to?” Ana asked.
“I’m meeting a friend.”
“When will you be back?”
“Just for coffee.”
Ana didn’t object. Olivia had never been impulsive about going out. “Alright. Just be careful.”
“I will,” Olivia replied softly.
A few minutes later, her phone buzzed—a message from Sophie with the café address.
After getting ready, Olivia chose a loose-fitting outfit that would help conceal her figure. Though her pregnancy wasn’t obvious yet, a faint curve was starting to show. I just want to look like any other girl my age today, she thought nervously.
Alisa helped her into the car. As the vehicle pulled away from the house, Olivia glanced at her reflection in the window, hoping the day ahead would go smoothly.