THE UNEXPECTED RESPONSE

Leah sat on the coach, scrolling through her phone as the afternoon sun poured through the window. The house was quiet with just the TV sounds of soft music, with Richie out having meetings here and there,working with clients. She found herself in a rare moment of solitude. She sipped on her coffee absentmindedly, her mind drifting until it landed on Mariam.

It had been weeks since she last spoke to her, and she suddenly realized how much she missed her friend. She remembered the last time they were together—when she introduced Richie to Mariam, Mrs. Adams and Grandmother. They had laughed, shared stories, and for a brief moment, everything had felt perfect. The evening had gone well, with good food, but now, as she thought back, she realized she hadn’t heard much from Mariam since then.

Leah felt a twinge of guilt for not checking in with Mariam sooner. Life had been so hectic lately, with work and trying to juggle the responsibilities of marriage.

She quickly tapped Mariam’s number