She stares at the phone as it rings for the third time within the span of five minutes. Maybe if she lets it ring out, it’d make him stop, make him finally let her go. But she doesn’t want Jess to let go; she wants him to keep calling, to keep reaching out, to keep being brave even though his courage is quiet and nervous on the other end of the line.

Rory thinks to let it ring and this be their goodbye, but she reaches for the phone and picks it up, pressing the receiver tightly to her ear and willing to hear him speak on the other end of the line.

"Hello?"