Good Night Text
A light shines beside me, and I scramble for my phone. I smile as I see a familiar name on my screen, and quickly unlock it to respond to a message.
“Hey, good evening!!!”
“And a good morning to you.”
“Anything fun happen to you today?”
I think it over. “I went to the café and had a vanilla milkshake. It was good.”
I see that they’re typing a message, and excitedly await their reply.
“Dang that sounds good! I should get one today too!!”
I smile. “Yeah. By the way, on that thing we were talking about last night…”
I quickly erase it. No, let them bring it up. No need to appear so eager. I send something else. “What are you up to today?”
“Oh, maybe hanging out with some friends. I want to watch a movie later!”
Please bring it up. “Oh? What movie?”
“Probably some local rom-com haha. I bet it’s going to be corny AF!”
Don’t you remember…? “Heh, well, you like that kind of thing anyway, right?”
“Yeah haha, it sounds fun! I’ll probably cry though, awww.”
Do you not feel the same way? “Silly.”
“One of us has to be haha!”
Does it not matter to you as much as it matters to me?
“What does?”
Apparently, I sent that last one as a message. I smack myself on the head. Might as well. “What we talked about last night.”
I nervously watch as they begin typing, then pausing, then typing again. Then, a message.
“I… can’t. I’m sorry.”
I stare at the screen, dumbfounded. I knew it was coming; I just wanted it to be different this time. Guess not. “It’s okay. Just bad timing, I guess.”
I take a deep breath. “Hey, I have to sleep now. Have a nice day, all right?”
“I’m so sorry…”
I stare at the words.
“Yes, okay. Sleep well!”
A bittersweet smile plays on my lips. “Thank you. Let me know how the movie goes.”
“Will do!! Good night!!!”
I close the app, lock my phone, and gently place it on my nightstand. With a sigh, I wrap my blanket around me and let the night conceal the single, solitary tear that falls from my eyes.
–
Image source: deviantart.com/turquoise-truck/art/Pool-Lane-Lines-199766773
First written January 9, 2018.
#100