He spoke to the open air, refusing to look at my face.

“Are you really leaving me here?” I asked.

Allison tapped her phone screen two more times and finally pushed it deep into her pocket.

“I have three huge placement tests next week, Hannah,” Allison said.

She let out a long breath of pure, unfiltered annoyance.

“I can’t sit in a noisy hospital waiting room every single night,” Allison said.

Richard put his firm hand on her back and guided her toward the automatic doors.

They stepped out into the cold evening air without a single backward glance.