like lipstick traces on pillowcases

Everyone wants to see heaven
But no one wants to say goodbye

Flora's voice, when it floats out over the water, carried a certain tension that Soh had been expecting, given the contents of her letter. She turned to find her best friend approaching, looking as fabulous as ever, but with an air of concern that touched Soh even as it made her feel ashamed. "Hey," she replied, crossing the distance between them to sweep Flora into a hug - a hug that felt an awful lot like goodbye, because even if Flora had once said that she'd support Soh if anything were to happen between her and Koa, that might have changed with Jack's recent departure.

And if there was a competition between she and Flora? Well, Soh already knew she'd lose.

But she was getting ahead of herself. "Kind of," she said, biting her lip nervously as she released Flora. "But it's actually not anything bad. I think. I mean, it's just - well, it's - I'm -" She laughed, the sound grating even to her ears. The pitch was wrong, and there was an anxiousness that she couldn't quite shake. Soh huffed out a breath. "It's complicated."

Fighting the urge to continue to pace like a caged animal, Soh fidgeted instead with her hands, wringing them in front of her. "Flora, you know I adore you, right?"

Everyone wants to see heaven
But no one wants to die

Sohalia