No Forgiveness In The Snow

We were in the middle of packing our bags for Vienna when Mona suddenly snapped her suitcase shut.

I looked up, confused. She held her phone out to me.

"I canceled my study abroad application," she said. "I'm staying here to go to college with Tom."

The words hit me like a physical blow. My voice trembled as I asked, "What about me?"

She reached out, her fingers brushing my cheek with the same comforting warmth she’d always shown me. "My Jude is so strong. You won't be scared going abroad alone, right?"