In The Blink Of An Eye

The Phone Call

Silas was great! He was a gentleman, funny, kind, and caring, but he wasn't Jake. He was just a way for me to escape how scared, hurt, stressed, and exhausted I was. We approach the motel entrance, and he leads me into the lobby. I look at him, he looks back at me and we hug.

"I can't begin to thank you enough. I needed to clear my head, and I ran away. I didn't know where I was headed, but I'm glad I ran into you tonight."

"I'm just glad you had a good time and that I was able to help at least a little."

"You actually helped a lot more than you realize. Thank you for being so kind and caring. I hope one day, if you decide to visit Duskwood, you'll stop by to see me too."

"If I ever do come, you'll be the main reason why. Is there a way I can get your number. Maybe we can keep in touch?"

I asked him for his phone and wrote down my number. I hug him once more, and I walk towards my room. I turn back and look at Silas, who is still standing there looking my way. I didn't know why, but it was hard to walk away from him. It's as if I had known him my whole life instead of a few hours. As much as a small part of me wanted to run back to him and escape into our own reality, I knew I had a person counting on me back home. I love Jake. I do! There is no doubt in my mind about my feelings towards him. I was, however, doubting myself. I was starting to think I was failing him. Not only because I had no idea how to get him out, but because I felt like I was giving up on him. Just as I entered my room, my phone rang. I was sure it was Silas calling me. I answer my phone without even looking at the screen.

"Miss me already?"

"Glad to see you're feeling better."

It was Phil!!! I really need to stop getting myself into more mess than I was already in. I was shocked to hear his voice. He didn't even wait for me to reply back before he continued to talk.

"I made a mistake. I'm sorry!!! I shouldn't have let that happen. I was just so hurt seeing you cry that I let my emotions get to me. I understand if you never want to talk to me again, but at least let me stop by and tell you what Jake said."

"I'm not in Duskwood right now."

"What do you mean you're not in Duskwood?? You left back home? Where are you?"

"I am not in the mood to explain anything right now. I just had to get away."

"Okay, so when are you coming back."

"I don't know. I haven't decided yet. I might not even come back."

"WHAT? AT ALL??? You can't do that. Jake needs you. Don't give up on him because of Richy and I. Please. Come back."

"It's not you and Richy that I'm worried about. I'm worried about myself. I don't want to talk about Richy right now. You kissed me! Fine, you made a mistake. It shouldn't have happened, but it did. I'm not only mad that you kissed me, I'm mad because I wanted to kiss you back."

"I.."

"Wait, let me finish. Phil, you're a great guy! And if we were under normal circumstances, things would be different. In a parallel universe, I'd be visiting Duskwood with my girlfriends, and you'd be working there. Accidentally, we would bump into each other and start off a conversation where we would fall in love. But in this reality...I just can't."

"Listen..."

"I'm not done. Let me finish. I love Jake, and I care for him deeply. For the past year, my life has revolved around him and the day I would finally meet him. I fell in love with him without ever seeing his face. I never got to see his eyes, I never got to see his smile, I never felt his hands holding mine, never felt his body close to me, and I never got to kiss his lips. At this point, I'm starting to think that I never will. But Phil. You were there. Not just for me as a friend, but physically, you were there. Right in front of me, by my side. I felt your hug, I felt your hands, I saw your smile and your eyes. I felt your lips on mine. But I can't let my emotions ruin the small chances I have of a real life with Jake. I can't give up on him now just cause you are physically there while he's not. I can't hurt him, not after everything we have been through. Most of all, I can't do that to you, not to Jake, not to Jessy, not to Richy and not to myself."