The morning sky was quiet,when Anna sat the couch of her room,work had been busy all week, but today her mind refused to focus.
She stared down at her phone, her fingers lightly tracing the edge of the screen as if she was unsure whether to call someone or simply put the phone away.
Helen walked toward carrying two cups of coffee,she had noticed Anna's silence the entire morning.
"You've been very quiet" Helen said gently as she handed one cup of to Anna.
"What's going on?"
Anna forced a smile but it didn't reach her eyes.
"Nothing" she said softly.
Helen sat beside her and shock her head.
"Anna we've been friends for years, I can tell when something is bothering you".
Anna looked down at the coffee in her hands. For a moment,she said nothing. Then she sighed.
"Today's my mom's birthday", she finally said.
Helen's expression softened immediately.
"Oh .... Anna,I didn't know".
Anna nodded slowly."I was thinking about visiting her grave today"
The words came out quietly,but Helen could hear the sadness behind them.
"You don't have to go alone", Helen said after a moment.
"I can come with you"
Anna looked up surprised.
"Really?"
"Off course" Helen replied with a warm smile." Friends don't let friends face painful memories alone".
Anna hesitated, then nodded."thank you".
An hour later,the two girls walked slowly through the quiet cemetery. The wind moved gently through the tall trees, making the leaves whisper softly above them.
The peaceful silence made Anna's chest feel heavy.
She held a small bouquet of white flowers in her hands. They stopped in front of a simple grave with a clean stone. Anna's step slowed until she finally stood still.
Helen stayed a few steps behind, giving her space. Anna looked down at the name carved into the stone.
Her mother's name. For a moment,she couldn't move. Memories rushed into her mind like a wave-her mother's laughter,the warm hugs, the way she used to brush Anna's hair when she was younger.
Those simple moments suddenly felt so far away, Anna slowly knelt beside the grave and placed the flowers carefully on the ground.
"Hi,Mom", she whispered. Her voice trembled slightly.
Helen watched quietly from behind. She had never seen Anna this vulnerable before. "I know I haven't come here in a while", Anna continued softly.
"Work has been busy..... life has been busy".
She wiped her eyes quickly,but tears still slipped down her cheeks. "I wish you were here", she said .
Her shoulders shook slightly as she tried to hold back her emotions. The cemetery remained silent, except for the gentle wind. Anna sat there for several minutes,and even about the confusing situation with Vincent.
Helen eventually stepped forward and placed a comforting hand on Anna's shoulder.
"It's okay to cry", she said gently. Anna nodded,taking a deep breath as she tried to calm herself.
After a while,she stood up slowly.
"Tank you for coming with me", she said to Helen n
Helen smiled softly, "anytime"
While Anna stood in the quiet cemetery,far across the city Vincent sat in his office staring at his computer screen. But he wasn't reading anything. His eyes moved toward the empty desk across the room.
Anna's desk.
He frowned slightly." She's late", he muttered under his breath. Vincent checked his watch. Anna was never late for work. Infact, she was usually one of the first people to arrive.
He leaned back in his chair, thinking. Maybe she was sick, maybe something happened.
Still,the silence felt strange. He picked up his phone and opened their message chat.
His fingers hovered over the keyboard for a moment before he finally typed.
Where are you?
He stared at the message for few seconds before adding another line. You're supposed to beat work. I need you here. He pressed send.
Vincent placed the phone on his desk but kept glancing at it every few seconds, waiting for a reply.
For some reason,her absence bothered him more than he expected, he told himself it was because of work.
But deep down,there was another reason he didn't want to admit.
Anna had become important to him. And the thought that something might be wrong made him uneasy. Mean while,Anna and Helen were slowly leaving the cemetery.
Anna pulled her phone from her pocket when she felt it vibrate.
She looked at the screen. Vincent's name appeared at the top of the message. Her expression changed immediately. Helen noticed.
"Who's is it?"
Anna sighed quietly."Vincent", she said. She stared at the message again,
Where are you? You're supposed to be at work. I need you here.
Helen raised an eyebrow."sounds like he's demanding".
Anna gave a small tired smile."that's Vincent for you".
For a moment, she wondered whether to respond immediately or take some more time to herself.
The emotional weight of visiting her mother's grave was still sitting heavily in her chest.
But Vincent was waiting for an answer. And knowing him, he probably wouldn't stop asking until he got one.
Anna slowly began typing her reply.