Then she paused.
She locked the phone. The screen went dark. Then, she pressed the power button. change lock screen image
She pressed .
The screen went black. Then, the Apple logo glowed to life. But when the phone booted back up, it didn't ask for her passcode. Instead, it asked her to choose a new lock screen image from a carousel of suggestions. Then she paused
Change Lock Screen Image?
The alpine lake vanished. Her own laughing face filled the screen. It felt strange. Selfish. Almost rude. Then, she pressed the power button
A stranger looked back at her—a woman who could still laugh. Elara stared for a long time. She didn't cry. Instead, she picked up the phone, opened the old photo of Liam on the pier, and moved it to a new album titled Hold.
