Emily’s heart filled with joy at that familiar noise. It was a sound she hadn’t heard in years, but it brought back a flood of memories. “Hey, buddy… Do you remember me?” Emily whispered, his voice a bit shaky yet filled with warmth. “It’s Emily, your best friend.”
Slowly, Tubby’s head peeked out from his shell, and his tiny eyes blinked up at Emily. There were no grand gestures or dramatic moments, but the simple connection of Tubby’s gaze meeting Emily’s felt like a bridge between the past and the present.