Just as Ava turned her gaze back to her laptop, the persistent buzz of her phone sliced through her focus yet again. Dylan's name on the screen acted as salt on her fresh wounds.
Ava hesitated but answered the call.
"Hello?" she said curtly.
"I hope you got the ointment," Dylan said in a calm and gentle voice. "It'll help with the pain. And if you have trouble applying it yourself, let me know. I can help you."
Ava's hand instinctively brushed against her waist where the pain lingered, her cheeks flushing at the thought. "I am fine," she replied stiffly.
"Are you sure?"
Ava's patience snapped. "Why do you care? Stop worrying about me!" Without waiting for a reply, she ended the call, slamming the phone down. She couldn't stop her tears from blurring her vision. Her chest heaved as her emotions surged uncontrollably, anger and longing wrestling within her.
