The distance between my friends and I all but disappeared, and in an instant, I was enveloped in a flurry of arms and affection.
Emily and Zoe, their hugs as fierce and warm as the flames of a cozy hearth, wrapped their arms around me in a tight embrace
Despite the warmth of my friends' greetings, a hint of confusion danced at the edges of my mind, a nagging voice that whispered of the disconnect between their cheerful greetings and my own withdrawn behavior.
I was puzzled by their positive reactions to me, seeing as I hadn't reached out to them for quite a while now.
Zoe's unusual display of affection only added to the mystery of my friends' unwavering acceptance, a riddle that seemed to defy my understanding.
Despite her normally cool demeanor, she had shown a rare glimpse of warmth by hugging me.
"What's gotten into you?" I asked, my voice a playful lilt as I cast a quizzical glance her way. "Since when do you show affection to anyone?"
