Page 163 of When a Soul Cries
My hands started shaking so badly I had to press them against the countertop.
“What else happened?”
Rome held my stare.
“You need to ask Sol.”
“Rome—”
“No.” His voice stayed calm. “That’s her business. She needs to tell you when she’s ready.”
My throat tightened.
“Where the fuck was I?”
The words came out broken.
Rome’s brows pulled together.
“That’s not on you.”
“Yes, the fuck it is.” I shoved away from the counter, tears burning my eyes again. “That’s my best friend. That’s my fucking sister. Something was wrong with her while I was down there arguing with people over flower arrangements and a fucking will?”
“A’Zaria—”
“She should’ve called me!”
“She probably had her reasons.”
“She didn’t need a reason!”
My voice cracked.
A small sound came from behind us.
“Zari?”
Everything inside me stopped.
I turned.
Sol stood at the entrance of the kitchen.
Halo rested against her chest.
Sol looked tired.
Not regular tired.
**Broken-down tired.**
Her eyes were swollen. Her face looked drained, and her shoulders curved forward like the weight of the last few weeks was still sitting directly on top of them.
My hand flew to my mouth.
“Oh my God.”
Sol’s eyes immediately filled with tears.
