(miniflash story)

Samantha sat at the coffee shop, sipping her latte and scrolling through her phone. She had arranged to meet her two best friends, Rachel and Emily, to catch up on old times.

As they chatted and laughed, Rachel suddenly grew serious. “Guys, I need to tell you something,” she said, her voice low. “But you have to promise not to tell anyone.” Samantha and Emily exchanged a knowing look. They had been in this situation before, and they knew that Rachel had a tendency to gossip.

But Rachel seemed sincere, so they nodded in agreement. “We promise,” they said in unison. Rachel took a deep breath and whispered her secret. Samantha and Emily listened intently, their eyes widening in surprise.

As Rachel finished, Samantha spoke up. “But what about John? Won’t he be upset if he finds out?” Rachel shook her head. “I told him I wouldn’t say anything. And besides, three may keep a secret, if two of them are dead.”

The statement hung in the air, sending a shiver down Samantha’s spine. It was a reminder of the weight of secrets and the dangers of spreading them around. As they finished their coffee and said their goodbyes, Samantha and Emily couldn’t help but wonder if they could really keep Rachel’s secret. But they knew that if they valued their friendship, they had to try.