The silence was beginning to change her.
Alaine noticed it in small ways first.
Her hand no longer automatically reached for her phone the moment she woke up.
Loud music now felt intrusive instead of comforting.
Conversations that once distracted her now felt shallow.
Like she was hearing things beyond people’s words now.
Exhaustion.
Loneliness.
Pretence.
Everyone seemed to be carrying something invisible.
Including her.
***
That realization followed her throughout the week.
At work.
At home.
In crowded places.
Especially crowded places.
Because lately, crowds no longer made her feel connected.
Only distracted.
And now that distraction was slowly losing its power over her.
***
One evening after work, Elsie invited her out for dinner.
Normally, Alaine would have agreed immediately.
Noise.
People.
Movement.
Anything to avoid sitting alone too long with her thoughts.
But this time she hesitated.
Not because she didn’t want company.
But because part of her was beginning to understand why she feared being alone in the first place.
Still, she agreed.
Maybe because she was tired of carrying everything silently.
***
The restaurant buzzed with laughter and music when they arrived.
Glasses clinked.
Conversations trying to outdo each other.
Waiters wove quickly between tables.
This atmosphere used to feel comforting to her.
Alive.
Now it just felt loud.
***
Elsie noticed almost immediately.
“You’re spacing out again,” she said gently after they sat down.
Alaine gave a faint smile.
“Am I that obvious now?”
“A little.”
There was warmth in Elsie’s voice, but concern too.
The kind that made it difficult to keep pretending.
***
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Elsie leaned forward slightly.
“What’s been eating you up lately?”
Alaine lowered her...