Melissa rushed after Emma, her voice pleading. "Please… I'm sorry," she said, reaching out to stop Emma from leaving.
Emma spun around, her eyebrows furrowed in frustration, lines creasing her forehead. "And what do I get from forgiving you?" she demanded, her voice cold and cutting.
"I really am sorry, Emma," Melissa stammered, her words tumbling out. "At that moment, I was so stupid. I thought that if something happened to you, everyone would blame me—"
"Something did happen, Melissa!" Emma's voice rose, her anger spilling over. "I almost died!" Her shout echoed around the lounge.
"I—I know…" Melissa's hand falling to her side as the weight of Emma's pain sank in. Her voice cracked, filled with regret.
"You knew, and you still chose yourself over me," Emma said, her voice trembling, not with fear but with a deep sense of betrayal. "You were supposed to be my friend, Melissa. My best friend."