Heart Pangs

Chapter 18 - Homecoming

The first thing Benji does upon graduating college is move away from his hometown. Not far away. But enough. Something about it doesn't quite feel like... home anymore. Maybe it's the shadow of the ever looming Facility, its threat made more real by Camille's "accident" last semester. Maybe it's the gaping hole that Felix's absence has left in Benji's life. Felix was easy to forget about in college but being back, driving down the roads they rode bikes down, passing the playground, seeing the shed in the backyard, it makes it much harder to forget. Or maybe it's just that Benji has been looking at his past through rose-tinted glasses and being back finally let him see things clearly. Either way, it's an unexpected weight off his chest when he leaves and starts anew.

Benji doesn't call his new life perfect, but it's enough. He has an apartment and a comfortably paying job in insurance. Working in an office has never been his dream job, but it has some benefits. Plus, it's a good way to keep his head down and stay out of trouble.

He does his best to stay in contact with his family. But Brandon is busy planning his wedding with his new fiancée, Camille is knee deep in college work, and Stephanie is happy to finally be an only child.

Benji sees everyone only three times after he moves away. One year after his move, it's at Brandon's wedding. The year after that, it's at Stephanie's high school graduation. The very next year it's Camille's college graduation. Benji watches her face as she crosses the stage. She looks strangely detached. He wishes he could have been there for her longer after her accident, but he doesn't have a chance to talk to her in private after the ceremony, to make sure she's doing okay. Everyone is too busy with congratulations and pictures. After that day, Benji doesn't see his family for another two years.

It's because of this that Benji is surprised when his phone rings and he sees it's Brandon's name on the caller ID. It's been five years since Benji moved. He can barely remember his older brother calling him before.

"Brandon?" Benji says in surprise when he picks up.

"Hey, Benji," his brother's familiar voice says on the other line. "How are things on your end?"

Still taken aback, Benji gives a brief rundown on his current circumstances. He talks about the interesting things happening at the office (it isn't much) before turning the conversation back and asking Brandon the same.

Brandon's answer is dull. Work is the same. His wife, Sarah, is five months pregnant and can't decide which color to paint the new nursery. The whole time Benji feels like this isn't why Brandon called. He's about to ask what it is that Brandon really wants to talk about when his brother finally asks, "Have you heard from Camille lately?"

Benji is so unprepared for the question that he stutters over her name. "C-Camille? What do you mean?"

Benji can almost imagine Brandon shrugging his shoulders and shaking his head. "I don't know, Benji. There's been something going on with her lately."

"Something going on? Like what?"

"She's felt... unusually distant. She goes off grid for long periods of time, absolutely impossible to contact her. And every time I do talk to her, she continues to insist that she's fine." He pauses to sigh. "I know you're probably busy with work and everything, but I know you two have always been close— closer than her and I, at least. If you could spare some vacation time to come down and see her and just... make sure she's not in trouble."

Benji is nodding before Brandon is even done explaining. He's remembering Camille's face at graduation and suddenly regretting not trying harder to talk to her then. Had Camille been suffering these past years and he had no idea? Brandon's right. It's very unlike Camille to suddenly be secretive and withdrawn.