Emma sipped her coffee, the familiar warmth seeping into her as she scrolled through her phone. She found herself contemplating her day, thoughts drifting to the unexpected twists and turns her life had taken recently. It was during one of these pensive moments that she decided to reach out to Carl.
With a sense of curiosity and a need for companionship, she dialed his number. As the phone rang, she wondered what he might be up to. When Carl's voice came through, it was a comforting reassurance that someone was there on the other end of the line.
They exchanged pleasantries, with Emma asking what he was doing. Carl replied with a casual "nothing much," but his tone hinted at his readiness for something more. Emma felt a pang of longing for a friendly face, someone she could talk to without pretenses.
