The Letter (SPRINT)
Torey opened the letter, as anticipation had overtaken him. As he lifted and flipped it, the contents were revealed to him. His eyes went from an anxious glare to nearly popping out of his head. “What the—…. I haven’t heard from them in years…” He spoke aloud.
As he continued reading the letter, he learned a few things that happened in the time of him being away. He read the phone number near the bottom of the letter and quickly picked up his phone to call it.
As it rang, he nervously stood by; waiting, hoping someone would pick up. But to no avail. “I’m sorry, but the number you have dialed is no longer in service. Goodbye.”
“Huh—” He shuddered, looking at a loss for words. He frantically checked the letter again, and the date was penned in 2021.
“I guess I’m four years too late… Guess I’ll have to search for her on social media.”
As he went onto Facebook, he came to realize his break from all social media had a huge cost. As he went to search up the name, her profile popped up… But it was a Memorial. Torey’s entire world came to a halt, not knowing what to do, he just turned off his phone and sat on the couch of the house he had not been inside for years.
He sighed, then opened his phone again to further investigate this memorial. The room became still and cold, and he broke out into a nervous sweat. As he continued scrolling, he learned the hard way of his own actions and their consequences. A silent giggle, turned into hardy laughter as he attempted to fight back tears. But the flood gates were already bypassed as he started bawling hysterically.
“Why— why me… Why you of all people… You didn’t deserve that…— so why… No. This has to be some kind of sick joke right? Maybe everyone’s playing some huge prank on me. That has to be it!” He yelled confidently, his voice cracking as he wiped away tears clearing his throat. “Ahem… Well let me call someone to verify…” He went into his friends list and messaged someone they grew up with.
“It’s a long story… But I just came home… Can you fill me in on what happened with— no… It still has to be some sick joke, right? She isn’t really… gone, is she?”
They went silent, “listen… I’m sorry but when the time came, we tried our hardest to get in contact with you. But don’t blame yourself for it… By time they got there, her eyes were gray…”
Torey went silent again, as a hiccup over the phone occurred. “I’m sorry… I need to go…” As the flood gates opened once again, “Hey, you’re in the city, right? There’s a lot that must be discussed… And there’s something she wanted everyone to tell you. So, if you can, come down to the bar… It’ll be a quiet night, so come through. It’ll be you, me, and a couple others from our friend group.”
Torey hung up the phone and threw it at the wall. “If I was there, none of this would have happened… I’m so sorry, I let you down again. So much for leaving then coming back so I could take you away from this place… What am I even saying… There was never a possible future for us, look at me… Fantasizing about what could have been, what we could have had. Fuck, why am I always like this?” He looked up at the ceiling as tears rolled down his face, he slid down the wall and sat there for a while.
He wiped them away then got dressed in something cozy, but light for the weather. Getting into his car, he rode to the bar all alone with no cell phone and a heart filled with emotions he couldn’t contain. As he got out the car, he was greeted by a woman with butterfly locs and a septum, “you came! come in, come in!” She urged him.
“It’s good to see you too Jada…” They went inside and she stationed herself behind the bar.
“The others should be coming in an hour or so… So let’s talk about it… If you’re ready.”
Torey looked down.
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