Run: 2026-02-17-01KHMPFAR34P7Z74R6V1Q9V3E5

Rory's eyes scanned the dimly lit bar, the smell of old wood and worn leather enveloping her like a familiar blanket. She had just finished a long delivery shift at the Golden Empress, and the prospect of a quiet pint at the Raven's Nest was just what she needed to unwind. Silas, the owner, was polishing a mug with a white cloth, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he caught her gaze. He nodded in greeting, but Rory's attention was already drifting toward the figure sitting at the end of the bar, facing away from her. As she took a seat a few stools down, the stranger's head swiveled, and their eyes met in the mirror behind the bar. For an instant, Rory's mind struggled to reconcile the face staring back at her with the one she remembered. It was Eva, her childhood friend, her confidante, the person who had once known her better than anyone. But the bright, mischievous spark that had once defined Eva was gone, replaced by a haunted, world-weary look that made Rory's chest ache. Eva's eyes, once a deep, rich brown, now seemed dull and lifeless, like two stones worn smooth by the constant buffeting of the sea. Her hair, once a wild tangle of curly brown locks, was now a neat, mousy bob, framing a face that was both familiar and yet, utterly foreign. Rory felt a pang of sadness, mixed with a dash of guilt, as she realized that she had no idea what had happened to her friend in the years since they'd lost touch. The barman, a gruff but kind man named Jack, set a pint of Guinness in front of Rory, and she took a sip, her eyes never leaving Eva's reflection. For what felt like an eternity, the two women simply stared at each other, the only sound the soft hum of conversation from the other patrons and the occasional clink of glasses. Finally, Eva turned, her eyes locking onto Rory's, and a hesitant smile spread across her face. Rory's heart swelled with emotion as she slid off her stool and walked toward her friend, the two women embracing in a tight, awkward hug. As they pulled back, Eva's eyes welled up with tears, and Rory felt her own eyes pricking at the corners. They stood there, frozen in time, as the sounds of the bar receded into the background. "Rory," Eva whispered, her voice barely audible over the pounding of Rory's heart. "It's been so long." Rory nodded, her throat constricting as she struggled to find the right words. "Eva, I...I had no idea you were back in London." Eva's smile faltered, and she looked away, her eyes drifting toward the floor. "I know. I'm sorry. I should have reached out." The silence that followed was oppressive, heavy with the weight of unspoken regret and unresolved tension. Rory felt like she was staring into the face of a stranger, someone who wore Eva's skin but had lost the spark that had once defined her. As they stood there, Silas intervened, his voice low and smooth as he slid a glass of red wine down the bar to Eva. "On the house, ladies. Why don't you take a booth in the back, catch up?" Rory nodded, grateful for the escape, and the two women slid into a quiet booth, the sounds of the bar muffled by the wooden partitions. For a long moment, they simply sat, the only sound the quiet hum of the bar's music system. Finally, Eva spoke up, her voice barely above a whisper. "Rory, I'm so sorry. I know I just vanished, and I never reached out. I was in a bad place, and I didn't know how to..." Rory's hand shot out, covering Eva's, her eyes welling up with tears. "You don't have to apologize, Eva. I'm just glad you're okay." Eva's eyes met hers, a deep sadness lingering in their depths. "I'm not okay, Rory. I'm...I'm a long way from okay." As the night wore on, Rory listened, entranced, as Eva spun a tale of loss and heartache, of regret and longing. The Eva she had once known would have laughed, would have joked, would have found the humor in even the darkest of situations. But this new Eva was different, haunted by demons that Rory couldn't even begin to understand. As the hours slipped away, the bar emptying out around them, Rory felt a deep sense of sorrow. She had lost touch with her friend, had let the years drift by without reaching out, without checking in. And now, it seemed, she had lost the Eva she once knew, the one who had been her partner in crime, her confidante, her sister. As they finally parted ways, Eva's eyes lingering on Rory's face, she felt a sense of trepidation. She had no idea how to reconcile the Eva she had once known with the stranger sitting across from her, but she knew she had to try. For their friendship, for the memories they had shared, and for the sake of the Eva who was still in there, somewhere, struggling to find her way back.