To Be Made Whole (A Christian Romance) (On Hold)

Chapter 4: Papers and Favors

My aching eyes strained as I stared at the computer screen before me. The sound of my fingers clicking each key was getting old, but I couldn't stop now. I completed my last paper merely thirty minutes ago, but this paper had a long way to go. I clicked between multiple tabs as I went back to my sources that I continued to cite from. My fingers moved at a lightening speed. At this rate, I could finish it by midnight which is when it was due.

Forty five minutes ticked by and the first two pages were complete. Well, the first draft of the first two pages were complete. I felt satisfied and moved my mouse up towards the three little dots in the corner and clicked to find the button that secured all my hard work. Save.

Just as I tried to click it, the lights in my room completely went out along with the power of my desktop. My body stilled as I stared at the dark screen and then it sunk in. I never successfully click the button.

"No," I began while clicking the mouse frantically and then slapping the screen with my both of my hands. "No, no, no, no, no!"  I stood up quickly and reached around for my doorknob and pulled my door open. The house was completely silent. My mother and father fell asleep not long ago. If they found out that I procrastinated this hard, they would lose it. Their care towards me may have faded, but their care towards my academics only skyrocketed over the years.

Looking through the window of the landing in my stairwell, I saw that the neighbors lights were also out.

Great. This was not an easy-to-fix problem.

I rubbed my head aggressively out of frustration. The small beaded ring on my ring finger dug into my forehead a little too hard.

"Ah!" I yelped in pain. I needed to get to a computer fast. I ran to my room in the darkness and tapped around on my bed to grab my phone. Looking at the time, it was 10:50 at night. All the libraries in my area were closed at eight every evening.

What am I going to do? I felt desperate. I couldn't get a low grade destroy this quarter for me, but how could I turn this in now? Then it clicked.

"Rafael!" I yelled and then immediately slapped my hand over my mouth. I stood in silence for a moment and when I heard no sound from my parents' bedroom. I quickly clicked his name in my contacts and felt grateful that we remembered to swap numbers after leaving the coffee shop.

It rang twice before I heard his voice.

"Anna?" His voice was clearly groggy, a sign of disrupted sleep. I cringed when I remembered what time it was. He loved his early morning walks. He told me that when we first met. Logically, to get up that early, one must sleep that early.

"I am so sorry. I'll go. Sorry again!" I quickly moved the phone from face and hung up. I noticed my heart was racing. Why had I begun breathing so heavily?

A loud ring caused me to jump and drop my phone right on my toe. I yelped in pain and slapped my hand over my mouth yet again. I really had to stop making all of this noise. Pushing past the pain, I reached down to quickly grab my phone and answer it.

"Hello." I said as quietly as I could while remaining audible.

"Anna." His voice was clear, unlike the last time.

"Yes?" I cringed. I felt horrible for waking him.

"What's wrong? Why did you hang up?" He spoke with much more alertness. I sighed. I doubt he would easily fall back asleep now.

"I'm sorry. I- It wasn't important."

"You're lying to me." I bit my lip while staring up at the ceiling. He wasn't wrong. I had been lying to him and it made me feel uncomfortable.