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A Hollow Gesture

Author: Sarah Ovvens
last update Last Updated: 2025-01-30 01:24:30

Xavier sat in his car, his fingers tapping restlessly on the steering wheel. He hadn’t heard from Ember all day, and the silence between them was unsettling. Ever since the argument they’d had over Bea, she hadn’t called or texted, and Xavier knew something was wrong. He had hoped the tension would dissipate, but it lingered like a shadow, stretching between them. He couldn’t stand it any longer. The weight of the unspoken words between them was suffocating, and he needed to do something—anything—to make it right.

He had an idea.

Pulling his phone from his pocket, he dialed Ember’s number. After a few rings, she answered, her voice cool and distant.

“Xavier,” she said, a single word that conveyed everything—distance, disappointment, and a trace of anger.

“Hey, Ember,” he said, trying to sound casual but knowing he couldn’t hide the concern in his voice.

“I was thinking we could go out today. I’ll pick you up, and we could do something fun. What do you say?”

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