Familiar Stranger
“I knew your husband,” Katie said, her words lingering in the silence. My stomach churned as my mind raced with questions. Knew him how? Knew him well? I tried to steady my thoughts, but it was almost impossible to stay composed. Her statement echoed in my mind, unsettling and unresolved. Katie’s tone was calm but carried an urgency, as if she had practiced this conversation countless times. Each carefully chosen word deepened my unease, feeding the suspicion already taking root.
Familiar Stranger
Friends’ Concerns
Sarah, my best friend, was at my side in an instant, her hand resting gently on my arm. “Emma, maybe you should hear her out,” she said softly, her face etched with concern. I swallowed hard, nodding slowly as I fought to keep the lump in my throat at bay. The crowd clustered around the graveyard felt stifling, their murmurs and whispers pressing in on me. I needed to escape, to find air and clarity away from the weight of it all.
Friends’ Concerns
