Elastic Heart
Unprovoked, unexpectedly, Candy asks Zayn the question.
"So what's with the heart on Lana's contact?"
The tension in the room thickens as Candy's question hangs in the air. It's as if it was the last thing I expected to hear, and yet now that it's been said, I can't help but feel a sharp pang in my chest.
Zayn shifts uncomfortably, his eyes darting briefly to me before he clears his throat.
"It's not what you think."
He starts, his voice steady but with an edge of defensiveness creeping in.
"The heart emoji next to Lana's name… it was because of Hailey. I got caught up in the emotions when she was born. I was overwhelmed with love for her, and I guess I just—"
He stops, as if realizing he's explaining himself too much. But the damage is done.
