Two strangers. One room. And it doesn't end there.
Rhys Hayes has been diagnosed with dyscalculia. He finds it easier to avoid talking than have to reveal his secret: why he can't tell the time, or why he doesn't remember directions, or why he just...
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✿ Verena ✿
Yesterday, Rhys was on his laptop for three hours continously. I decided not to disturb him and just ate and scrolled through tiktoks, wondering what some of the weird phrases the kids used meant.
Living in an orphanage has really left me uneducated. I know nothing of the slangs and all of that cool stuff. I know a lot about plant cells though, and maths and chemistry and phy- wait no, and history.
Today, I have a different plan. I don't want to get bored, I want to talk to someone and I just have one option.
"Rhys?" I call out.
"Hm."
"Rhys?"
"What?" He looks up at me, away from his laptop.
"Let's talk," I say, sitting on the couch, my feet grazing the wood, making lazy patterns.
"We already are," He says and turns away again. God.
I get up and sit beside him on the bed, my back faces him as I reach for the telephone on the side table.
I forgot I had a friend.
I dial the number and wait as the line connects.
"Hi Tim!" I speak into the phone.
"Yes ma'am?" He says.
"Let's have a chat, I'm bored."
"In the decades I've spent running this place, no one has ever called me to chat."
"There's a first time for everything, right?" I say, happy for him. Maybe he needs a friend too.
"Yeah."
"The guy in my room doesn't talk to me, he's been mute since yesterday," I mutter sneakily.
"Really?" Tim says, dragging his voice, "Why?"
"I don't know," I shrug. "He just looks cool and stuff but he's not. He does nothing but stare at his laptop screen and he doesn't even change out of his clothes," I explain in a hushed voice.
"Why?" Tim asks again.
"I don't know.... oh wait! He said he was broke, maybe he doesn't have extra clothes. Should I lend him mine?" I wonder. Why haven't I thought of this before?
"I don't think it'll fit him. I could give him mine though." Tim responds. Tim is smart.
"You're so sweet," I turn around to look at Rhys and find him already staring at me with a confused expression, his eyes wide and his lips set into a thin line.
