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More than 20 hours had passed since Elly Campbell sent that last message to Adam Jones the afternoon before yesterday, and she hadn't replied to his text, nor had Adam sent another.
When busy, she didn't really feel anything, but now that she was idle, sitting alone on the couch and facing the quiet living room, that suffocating sense of loneliness suddenly crept up like vines, climbing and growing incessantly through her bloodstream.
Laura hadn't gone to sleep either; it seemed she sensed her mommy's unhappiness and slowly climbed up, laying on her legs and letting out a soft "meow," as if to comfort her.
Elly held Laura in her arms, gently stroking her back, looking at this beautiful youngster, imagining Adam picking out a pet in the pet store, and her lips unconsciously curved into a smile.