The hot water cascaded over me in the bathtub, washing away the grime and exhaustion from a day that seemed endless. Timothy had insisted on preparing dinner for us after my long soak, claiming he had a few recipes up his sleeve that would tantalize the taste buds. As the aroma of his culinary prowess wafted through the air, I decided to make a call to my friend Aria. It had been too long since we last spoke, and curiosity gnawed at me.
I grabbed my phone, water droplets falling from my fingers, and dialed Aria's number. The call went straight to voicemail. Strange, I thought. Aria was usually glued to her phone. She had a penchant for replying within minutes, even seconds, if she wasn't entangled in some adventure or work. I left a message, trying to sound casual while secretly feeling a
