Savannah closed her eyes. “I’m not. I’m fine.”
“Savannah.”
She’d always hated how her name sounded when Alana said it like that. Too knowing. Too gentle.
Savannah forced a breath out. “I’m just… overwhelmed. With work. With everything.”
Alana hummed. “Do you want to come home for a weekend?”
The question hit harder than she expected.
Home.
A place she hadn’t let herself want in weeks. A place she didn’t feel like she could crawl back to without looking like she’d failed at being an adult.
“I can’t,” Savannah said quickly. “The schedule’s too messy. I’ve got storms and city stuff, and next week’s a nightmare.”
Alana made a small, sympathetic noise. “Okay. Then I’ll come visit you.”
Savannah shook her head, tears pressing behind her eyes. “No, Alana, you don’t need to—”
“I want to,” she cut in. “You don’t have to explain anything. I just want to see you.”
Savannah’s breath trembled. “I don’t want you worrying.”
“Says who?” Alana asked. “Pretty sure sisters get to worry. It’s in the job description.”
Savannah let out a weak, humorless laugh. “I’m supposed to be the one taking care of you.”
“You still do,” Alana said. “But you don’t have to pretend nothing’s wrong just to make it easier on me.”
Savannah blinked hard. A tear slipped free before she could catch it. “I didn’t mean to bother you.”
“You didn’t bother me,” Alana said immediately. “You called me. That’s what I’m here for.”
Savannah wiped her cheek with the heel of her hand. “I just needed to hear your voice.”
“I’m glad you called.”
They fell into a quiet. Not uncomfortable. Not pressured. Just a soft space she hadn’t felt in a long time.
“Sav?” Alana said, gently again. “Whatever’s going on… you’re not alone.”
Savannah nodded even though Alana couldn’t see it. Her chest hurt, but in a way that felt a little less sharp.
“Yeah,” she whispered. “I know.”
“Look, you can’t say no,” Alana started. “But, I’m going to come see you.”
“Alana, I’m fine.”
“I just said you can’t say no!” Alana shot back.
“Fine, we can do dinner or something,” Savannah said, giving in.
“Good. Promise you’ll call again tomorrow?”
Savannah closed her eyes. “Yeah. I will.”
