Chapter 317

I decided to call Abigail at 5:00 pm and ask if she needed a ride home. The line rang a few times before I was greeted with a mechanically busy tone. I tried again, but this time, the cold, automated response came through. "The number you are trying to reach is currently unavailable." Hearing that, I let out a bitter laugh. Of course, I shouldn't have expected anything different. "No expectations, no disappointments," I muttered to myself, shaking my head at my own naivety. How foolish was I to think things would change? By then, Jane had already gone home for the evening. I didn't feel like preparing anything fancy, so I made some oatmeal and sat down to eat. As I ate the oatmeal, a text from Abigail popped up on my phone. "Sorry, Samuel. Something came up at work, and I had to go on a last-minute trip. Don't wait up for me tonight. I'm not sure if I'll make it back. Get some rest, okay?" It was the same old excuse. She always pulled the "work trip" card, like