Systematic Hearts

{ 12 }

I called the court. They said there was no mishaps in there system. But, they agreed to look into it. I'm talking about the man.

I got nervous that he would find my home, and my family. I didn't want to hurt them. Carson still has no idea. I hate that I am keeping this from him, but I don't want him to think he is competing with another guy. He's not. But I don't want him to feel that way.

Carson has known something is up ever since I broke down yesterday. I think I have to tell him.

"Carson?" I ask from across the table in the kitchen.

"What's up?" I stay silent. Where should I start? The court call or the actual problem... I don't know, "Andy? Are you okay?" I feel the tears starting to come.

I swallow the big knot in my throat and start to tell him. "I went to the store and there was a guy..." I tell him all about the mystery man. I tell him every detail I remember. I tell him that I called the court. I tell him that I am expecting a call back from them any minute. He just stares, "sorry I didn't tell you right away. I didn't want you to worry. Or, or think you had someone to compete with. You don't. I love you. I promise. I'm sorry I didn't tell you," I finish.

"Don't be sorry. I get why you didn't want to tell me. I get it. But, remember that you can tell me anything. Anything, even if it breaks my heart. Okay?" I nod, the tears start to come, "Come here," he pays his lap, I great fully walk over and sit on his leg."

"I-I love you," I say between sobs. I try to calm down.

"I love you too." He cups his hand in the back of my head and then he leans in still looking me in the eyes. Our lips are so close, I can almost feel them touch...

"RING. RING. RING." My phone goes off. I get off of Carson's lap and go over to it. I hope it didn't wake Charlie up.

I look at my phone. It's the System Court. I look at Carson. He already knows who it is. I answer, "hello." I say.

"Hi, this is System Court, you should have been expecting our call?" I go to answer but the lady doesn't care. She starts talking again, "We looked into your," pause, "case and there seems to have been a," pause, "mishap." She is even surprised. The System made a mistake. A mishap in her words.

"Oh," is all I can get out. Carson can hear the phone, he has his mouth open in shock. I try again, "what, what is it?" I ask.

"Well, you have, or had, a twin sister. The man is her other half," I gasp.

"Wait," I speak into the phone, "Don't you have to be alive to have an other half?" Carson hasn't closed his mouth, I think it has opened more.

"Of course. But she isn't and that's the mishap. Since you are connected, and since she died at the age of two or three, the necklaces must have been modded?" She isn't sure of what she is saying.

"No, the System puts death records in the Court. You can't match a dead person to a living person. You can't just leave that, that man on his own. He can't just be one half, there is another half," that man can't just be one half, it's impossible.

"Well, well, your sister was matched at birth, we couldn't do anything because she was a twin. Special methods are used. She was healthy, the System didn't expect her to die. I am supposed to tell you she is dead. And the man will be on his own. I sent info on him to you."

"Supposed? You're supposed to tell me she's dead? What information do you actually have?" I ask. I don't like the game she is playing.

"She might be alive. We don't know. The System has records on her, but some say she is still alive. It says sh-"

"Alice. Her name was Alice."

"Sorry, Alice may be alive, but I am supposed to tell you she is dead. Burk," the mystery man is Burl, "is her other half, and somehow connected to you. Because of the twins. But she may be alive. We don't have much information. I am truly sorry." She's not sorry.

"So what your saying is that I am connected to Burk? And that my dead sister could be alive. I went to her funeral when I was three. You are giving me false hope. And now, you are leaving this man without an other half? I don't understand, I really don't." I say. I am sick of the System. The way they give you hope. The way they make sure everyone is happy. Not everyone can be happy. Someone will die, like Alice. Someone will not find their other half, like Burk. And someone will be caught in the middle of a guessing game, like me.

The woman speaks through the phone, "I am sorry." She says it with no heart, was she supposed to say that too? I hang up.

She isn't sorry.

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Sorry I didn't update yesterday.

That chapter was interesting to write. And what do you think of the new cover?

Thanks for reading! Hope you have enjoyed this book so far!

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