SINCERLLY

I choked on a laugh. “If you’ve done something? I thought I’d done something. You weren’t around much yesterday when I expected you to be, and I don’t know. I just… Well, I’ve never had a friend, so I don’t know. Just ignore me. It’s dumb.”

Her bright eyes stared directly into mine, and she glared. “Elena. Don’t you ever say your feelings are dumb. I won’t tolerate that kind of bullshit. Not in our friendship. Even if you’re not seeing the situation fully, what you feel matters. You matter. Never be afraid to speak your piece. That’s the only way to build a true friendship. Something I hope you and I will have one day.”

Emotions burned at the back of my throat. “Seriously? I thought you were only here because you felt like you had to be and that you’d probably be gone just as soon as your obligations from the visions were met.”

She waved a flippant hand. “Hell no. Not unless I need to be for reasons beyond my control. I haven’t had a vision in years. Learning about you in the weird wa