03-13-2025, 11:05 AM
The door opened again shortly after Andrew left and in came Rachel. Emily smiled at her. The pair hadn’t had much of a chance to spend time together since her honeymoon. Rachel had seemed very focused on her thesis, which was a nice change of pace. Rachel had used her break time to get caught up. Still it worried Emily a little. Rachel had broken up with Cruz recently, but had seemed to move on fast. Emily wondered if diving into her research had been a large part of that. She had hardly mentioned Cruz.
”Awww…you didn't have to,” Emily said, the banter also a part of their tradition.
Rachel set down their food on her office table. ”Happy early birthday Em!” Rachel said, beaming.
Rachel had brought carbonara for lunch, but it looked different that what Emily usually thought as carbonara. There was pork instead of chicken. ”I got authentic carbonara from an Italian place. I hope that’s fine.” Rachel said.
”Of course it’s fine!” Emily said taking a seat. She waited until Rachel was done and had sat down to start eating. ”This is really good!”
Rachel began to eat, but would pick at her food a little before eating. Soon Emily’s sister would start to stare out the window. Emily’s office gave a great view of the Sanctuary of the Ascendent Flame. Rachel had been doing this lately. Just sort of zoning out every once in awhile. ”Are you okay?”
Rachel jumped a little at her voice. ”Yeah I’m fine.”
Emily listened and watched, and somehow Emily knew it was a lie or half truth. Something was going on. It was the way Rachel had said it. It was the slight change to her posture. It was the way Rachel seemed to pick at her food before eating. All little things - but put together they painted a picture. Emily assumed it was the breakup.
”Awww…you didn't have to,” Emily said, the banter also a part of their tradition.
Rachel set down their food on her office table. ”Happy early birthday Em!” Rachel said, beaming.
Rachel had brought carbonara for lunch, but it looked different that what Emily usually thought as carbonara. There was pork instead of chicken. ”I got authentic carbonara from an Italian place. I hope that’s fine.” Rachel said.
”Of course it’s fine!” Emily said taking a seat. She waited until Rachel was done and had sat down to start eating. ”This is really good!”
Rachel began to eat, but would pick at her food a little before eating. Soon Emily’s sister would start to stare out the window. Emily’s office gave a great view of the Sanctuary of the Ascendent Flame. Rachel had been doing this lately. Just sort of zoning out every once in awhile. ”Are you okay?”
Rachel jumped a little at her voice. ”Yeah I’m fine.”
Emily listened and watched, and somehow Emily knew it was a lie or half truth. Something was going on. It was the way Rachel had said it. It was the slight change to her posture. It was the way Rachel seemed to pick at her food before eating. All little things - but put together they painted a picture. Emily assumed it was the breakup.