Page 4 of Little Bitter Truths
Mia: Monday 1:45 p.m.
Not too exciting so far, but I chatted with a handsome man at breakfast, so there’s that.Heading back to the conference center now.Talk later.
Wren: Monday 1:48 p.m.
Have fun!
Mia: Monday 7 p.m.
Oh, I forgot to tell you.At lunch today, I sat next to the same guy I met at breakfast, and he asked if I was single.Can you believe it?
Wren: Monday 7:45 p.m.
Well?What did you say?Don’t leave me hanging!Ha!
Mia: Monday 7:50 p.m.
My therapist has been trying to get me to put myself out there, so for once, I tried to give the guy a chance.We’re going to grab coffee tomorrow morning before the first session begins.I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I’m kinda excited.
Wren: Monday 7:55 p.m.
Good job, Sis!I knew you had it in you!
Mia: Monday 8:10 p.m.
Thanks, it’s been a long day, and I’m wiped out.I’ll message you in the morning, okay?Night, love you.
The messages from the first day were simple and ordinary, the kind of exchanges you’d send back and forth and never think about again.
And then came Tuesday …
Mia: Tuesday 8:00 a.m.
Morning, hey, you didn’t respond to me last night.Everything all right?What’s on the agenda for today?I’m heading over to the coffee shop to meet with the guy I was telling you about.His name is Simon.
Mia: Tuesday 9:50 a.m.
Wren?You there?Why haven’t you responded?
Mia: Tuesday 3:05 p.m.
Wren?Text me back, please.I’m starting to worry.
Mia: Tuesday 4:00 p.m.
Wren!I’m worried.I’m going to call you as soon as I get out of this session.Please pick up.
I scrolled through the rest of the messages and found more of the same, with Mia growing more frustrated as the hours passed.
I handed the phone back.“Monday night was the last time you heard from Wren until you arrived home and found her in the living room.Did you find her phone when you got there?”
“Her phone, the book she was reading, the luggage she’d packed for the stay.It was all there.”
“I’d like to know more about Wren’s life.Had anything changed in recent months?Was she having any problems with anyone?”
Mia leaned back and took a deep breath in.“She split up with her husband, Cooper, a couple weeks before she died.”
“Tell me about the breakup.”
