They left me behind/ blind date

Emma felt a sharp pain in her chest the moment Alex broke the news to her, shocking her into stillness. Time seemed to slow, the weight of those words crashing over her like an unforgiving tide.

"What did you say, Alex? Tell me it's not true." Tears pricked her eyes as her knees buckled, and she collapsed onto the cold floor.

She had arrived earlier, expecting to meet her friend and discuss how to proceed with their search, only to find Alex kneeling, crying uncontrollably. Concerned, Emma had pressed her for answers, only to have the bombshell dropped on her.

Alex wiped her tears and grasped Emma's trembling hands, trying to keep her from fainting.

Emma's chest tightened, her muscles seizing with unbearable grief. She gasped for breath, but each inhale only fed the growing panic inside her.

"W...w...what...how...no..."

Her lips quivered, the words refusing to form. Her vision blurred as reality pressed down on her like a crushing weight.