For a few seconds, I couldn’t speak. My throat felt tight, my hands cold. The phone was still pressed against my ear, but I couldn’t hear anything except the sound of my own heartbeat. Slow and heavy, like it was struggling to keep going.

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Now, back to that phone call.

I just ended the call—didn’t argue, didn’t cry. I just stared at the quiet screen in my hand like it belonged to someone else. The house felt like it was holding its breath. The refrigerator hummed. The clock on the wall ticked, but everything else was silent.