― UNKNOWN NUMBER! (IRWIN)

21

2 months later

Everything was lonely.

My hospital room, my nurse, me.

Nurse Elsie called it talking, but she was just venting about her ex boyfriend.

I didn't mind, though. I tried to smile when she said something funny, and I tried to sympathize when she said something sad.

It didn't work. I just sat there and listened, staring at the same white wall day after day.

I just waited until 6:00 every night.

Then my phone would ring and I would hobble over to it or reach it from the bed.

"Hello?" I would ask.

"You already know it's me, Nikki,"

I would laugh.

"Maybe I do, maybe I don't,"

It would be his turn to laugh.

"You're right Michael did steal my phone that one time,"

"What about me?"

Michael would called sometimes too.

"Ash, where are you playing tonight?"

I knew already, but I still asked knowing he loved to talk about it.

"Today we're playing in Copenhagen!"

"Ooh, Denmark!"

"Maybe I could take you sometime,"

I would smile wistfully.

"Maybe someday,"

"I hope someday is soon,"

"That depends on you,"

We'd talk until he had to get ready for the show each night.

He hadn't forgotten me yet.

Yet.