C19 THE RETURN

Morning sunlight filtered weakly through Amara’s curtains, but it did nothing to warm her. She sat on the edge of her bed, staring at the message again, rereading the short, charged lines.

I heard what’s happening.

We need to talk.

Tomorrow. Private.

She hadn’t thought about him in years. Not seriously. Not in the way that made her chest tighten and her breath falter.

But now