“Sara? Is that you?”

There was no answer. I couldn’t sense her, but I knew it was her.

“Sara, talk to me,” I pleaded softly.

We hadn’t spoken since the morning in the medical ward, and my heart squeezed painfully from the need to hear her voice. I didn’t care if she yelled at me, as long as I could hear for myself she was okay.

“Sara?”

The line was silent and I knew she’d hung up. I sat in the dark hoping she’d call back, but after half an hour I lay down again. I finally fell asleep with the phone in one hand, and my other hand rubbing at the hollow ache in my chest.