Claire walked into their favorite fast-food restaurant, the familiar smell of fries and greasy burgers instantly wrapping around her like a warm blanket. It was the kind of place that held memories of their childhood, countless hours spent chatting about everything and nothing at all. She could always count on Emma to meet her here, a safe space where life’s complexities didn’t matter so much.
Emma was already sitting in their usual booth, her curly hair pulled back in a messy bun, a wide smile forming as she saw Claire. But as Claire slid into the seat across from her, Emma’s expression shifted—her eyes narrowing slightly, scanning her friend.
“Hey, Claire. How are you doing?” Emma asked, her tone casual but with an undertone of concern.
Claire didn’t answer right away. She grabbed the menu, though she barely glanced at it. She was more focused on the greasy fries being set down in front of her. The food seemed to call to her, a desperate need inside her to feel something other than the emptiness gnawing at her.
She piled a large handful of fries onto her plate and started eating without a word.
Emma watched, her eyes following every movement of Claire’s. It didn’t take long for her to notice the difference. Claire’s usual appetite had always been healthy, but now, it was almost as if she were eating like she hadn’t in days. Her hand moved mechanically from the fries to the burger, hardly pausing, like she was trying to fill a void she couldn’t name.
“Claire,” Emma said softly, her brow furrowing. “Are you okay?”
Claire paused mid-bite, the fry still in her hand. She glanced up at Emma, her eyes a little too wide, a little too distant. She quickly looked down at her food again, feeling her throat tighten.
“I’m fine,” Claire muttered, though it came out sounding unconvincing even to herself. “Just... hungry.”
Emma didn’t buy it. She pushed her fries aside, her gaze locking onto Claire’s. “No, you’re not. You’re eating like it’s the first meal you’ve had in weeks.”
Claire swallowed hard and set the fry down. She stared at her lap, feeling an uncomfortable lump forming in her throat. “I just... I’ve been busy, okay?”
“Busy?” Emma pressed, her voice gentle but firm. “You’ve been avoiding me, Claire. You’ve barely responded to my texts. And when we do talk, it’s like you’re a million miles away. I don’t know what’s going on, but I do know you’re not fine.”
Claire’s eyes welled up, though she quickly blinked them away. She didn’t want to show this. She didn’t want to admit how much everything had been weighing on her. But Emma wasn’t letting it slide, and somewhere in her chest, Claire knew she couldn’t keep pretending.
“I’m not okay, Emma,” she whispered, her voice breaking slightly. “Everything’s... everything’s a mess.”
Emma’s expression softened instantly. She reached across the table, placing her hand gently on Claire’s. “Tell me what’s going on. Whatever it is, you don’t have to go through it alone.”
Claire’s breath hitched as she finally let the tears fall. “I’m pregnant, Emma. And I don’t know what to do. I... I’m terrified.”
For a moment, Emma was silent, processing the weight of what Claire had just shared. Then, she squeezed her hand and leaned in closer, her voice calm but filled with understanding.
“You don’t have to figure this out all by yourself, Claire,” Emma said quietly. “I’m here. Whatever you need, whenever you need it.”
Claire took a deep breath, the relief almost overwhelming as she finally allowed herself to break down. Emma stayed with her, offering comfort, no judgment, just a steady presence through it all.
Emma’s eyes softened even more as she saw the vulnerability in Claire’s expression. She gently squeezed her friend’s hand, a sense of calm washing over her. She knew that Claire needed to hear this, needed to be reminded of what they had been through together, of the strength they’d gained by surviving everything life had thrown at them.
“Claire,” Emma said, her voice gentle but firm. “We’ve been through so much together. Remember when we were in the orphanage? We didn’t know where we came from, didn’t have our parents to lean on. But we had each other. We were sisters, even before we knew what that meant.”
Claire looked up at Emma, her eyes glossy with unshed tears. Emma’s words were like a balm to her soul, soothing some of the pain she had been carrying. Emma continued, her voice steady, as if the strength they had gained together was still flowing between them.
“We’ve had our share of bad times, sure. The world out here hasn’t been easy, but we made it through. Together. We’ve navigated everything on our own, but we’ve never had to face anything without the other one right beside us.”
Claire swallowed, the words settling in her chest, grounding her. She hadn’t realized how much she had needed to hear this—how much she had needed to remember that they were in this together.
“Having a baby,” Emma said quietly, her hand still on Claire’s, “it’s a blessing, Claire. I know it’s scary right now. It’s a lot to take in. But you’re not alone in this. We’ll figure it out, like we always do. We’ll get through this. I promise.”
Claire blinked back her tears, a small, fragile smile tugging at the corners of her lips. She nodded, not trusting herself to speak just yet. The weight of her emotions, the fear, the uncertainty, began to feel a little lighter with Emma’s words.
Claire took a shaky breath, her heart pounding in her chest as she let Emma’s words sink in. The tension in her body slowly began to ease, though she still felt a heavy weight pressing down on her chest. She looked into Emma’s eyes, the one person who had always been there for her, and for the first time in days, she felt a flicker of hope.
“I don’t know what I would do without you, Em,” Claire said quietly, her voice thick with emotion. “I’ve been so scared... so lost in my own head. I didn’t want to face any of this, and I thought... I thought maybe I could just handle it on my own, like I always have. But hearing you say all of that... I don’t feel as alone anymore.”
She wiped away a tear, giving a small, shaky laugh. “I’ve been running from the truth for so long, just trying to push it all away, but I can’t anymore. I’m terrified, and I don’t know if I’m ready for this... but I know I’m not ready to give up either. For the first time in weeks, maybe even months, I feel like I can breathe again. Because you’re right. I’m not alone in this.”
Claire reached out and squeezed Emma’s hand, a tearful but grateful smile tugging at her lips. “I’ll try, Em. I’ll try to make this work, for myself, and for this little one. And I’ll have you by my side, just like we’ve always had each other. Thank you. Thank you for being my family.”
Emma smiled back, her heart swelling with love for her friend. “Always, Claire. You’ve got me, always.”