Cleo shouted out "Everly" for the second time while they ate lunch in the office cafeteria. Everly, who had been immersed in her own thoughts the entire time, gently lifted her head from her food and stared at Cleo.
"What are you thinking about? I've been calling you for God knows how long," Cleo explained.
"I've got a lot on my mind," Everly said, her voice low and fatigued.
"Did you listen to the news this morning?" She asked, reaching out to touch her hand on the table and Everly responded by shaking her head slowly in a negative way.
"Brielle has been publicly declared missing," Cleo said softly, as if doing so would protect Everly feelings.
Everly nodded again, this time in agreement with what Cleo had just said, tears streaming down her cheeks as though it had just occurred to her that her bestfriend was no longer with her. "Everything will be fine, Everly, she'll be found in no time," Cleo assured her, still carassing her hand.