Chapter 17

• Sara sat at the kitchen table, surrounded by papers, notes, and her laptop, as she worked late into the night to finalize the project and prepare for the presentation. The apartment was quiet, except for the occasional sound of the refrigerator humming in the background.
• Maddy walked toward her, carrying a steaming cup of hot coffee. She smiled as she approached Sara. "Thought you could use a pick-me-up," she said, setting the cup down in front of Sara.
• Sara looked up, grateful, and smiled. "Thanks, Maddy. You're a lifesaver."