New Boy | Miguel Diaz

The Voicemail

Only ten minutes before I arrived at the hospital, Mom's heart stopped. The front desk people told me to sit down and wait for the doctor.

I waited not too long until the doctor came out and told me the news. I didn't leave right away, instead I took a trip around the hospital.

I spent most of my loose cash on the vending machine and sat by the window. My phone was turned off because of many notifications from my friends, but it was too dark outside and I was exhausted so I needed a ride home. I turned my phone back on and went through my messages.

Tory had sent me a selfie of her with the championship trophy, messages from other friends congratulating Cobra Kai, two missed calls from Dad, and a few messages from Miguel along with a voicemail.

I broke the news to my dad and asked for a ride home. When he got here, I didn't say anything so I walked out of the hospital and into his car.

Dad stayed inside for a bit to talk to the nurses about Mom, so I checked my phone and opened the few messages that really mattered to me in that moment.

Miguel
congrats on the big win!
i knew you could do it
there's something i need to talk to you about
but it's a lot so i'll just call u

That was Miguel's last message, so I went to my voicemails and played back Miguel's.

"Hey, I knew you wouldn't answer because you're still fighting and I think it's easier for me to tell you this without having you get worried and knowing you, you would've tried to talk me out of this, but um...

"I'm leaving, Ava. I'm not gonna tell you exactly where I'm headed, but just know I'll be safe. This has nothing to do with you, do not think I'm leaving to run away from us because that's the last thing I would ever do.

"But please... don't look for me. I promise I won't be gone too long, and I'll be back before you know it. I know you, and I trust you'll let me be on my own until I figure out what to do.

"I love you so much. More than anything. I'll be back soon, Ava."

The voicemail reached the end and I turned my phone off while it was still by my ear. I closed my eyes as tears fell on my cheek, and I silently cried until my dad got back into his car.

He looked at me, assuming I had broken down because of my mom, but I looked at him and asked, "Did you know? Did you know Miguel left?"

"How did you find out?"

"He left me a voicemail."

Dad didn't know what to say. Or he didn't know how to comfort me.

"Look, I'm gonna try to find him—"

"No. I trust Miguel will make the right choices. I mean, his first choice was to leave and yeah, that was stupid, but if he needs space, I'm gonna let him do what he wants. He's been through so much these past few years, and he needs a break."

"Ava, you don't understand. Miguel left to find his dad—"

"If he wanted our help, he would've asked for it. He knows what he has to do, so—"

"Miguel's dad doesn't know about Miguel. Kid's gonna look crazy when he goes up to the man and says 'hey i'm ur kid', but he has no idea Miguel's his son. I need to find him, so I can bring him home, and Carmen can explain everything to him. He's 17— he shouldn't be on his own across the country to find his dad who doesn't even know he exists."

Dad started the car, but he stopped himself before he started driving.

"Look, kid... I know how much you care about Miguel, and you want what's best for him, but his safety is what's more important right now. I need to bring him home, whether you're in or you're out."

He started driving, and I watched as the hospital disappeared from my view. I was thinking about what Dad had just said to me, and although I do love Miguel, Dad was right.

We're gonna find Miguel.