the other side of the curtain

09

"Hello?"

"I've got something important to ask you."

"Important things usually aren't discussed over the phone, Rivers."

"Well, yeah, but I'm not allowed to visit you until after your family visits you, right? And this is too important to wait until I can visit you!"

"...okay then. What is it?"

"Is your real name Emery?"

"..."

"Mari - no, Emery. That's your name, right? Emery. Emery Leens."

"...how...how did you find out?"

"'M' and 'Marie' combined is 'Emery'. Right?"

"Then how did you know my last name was Leens?"

"There was only one Emery a year younger than me in Creekside High School."

"...I didn't think you would figure it out."

"Did you want me to?"

"Well, a part of me did, I guess, and another part didn't."

"But why?"

"The part of me that didn't want you to find out was for your sake."

"What do you mean?"

"You said that you liked me. But you shouldn't. I'm not good enough for you. Sure, I get good grades, but I'm wasting away here in the hospital for what may be forever. You should find someone better. Someone you can hang out with, play with, travel the world with, not someone you have to sit beside for hours on end just talking or staring into space."

"...and what about the part of you that wanted me to find out?"

"...I like you too."

"Really? As in like like? Not just like as friends?"

"I've liked you ever since I was still in school."

"Then...then why didn't you tell me? We both like each other! We could have-"

"We could have what? What could we have done, Rivers? Go on dates? Sure, of course we can go on dates even when I'm a hospital patient!"

"Emery-"

"Do you think I didn't want to tell you? I thought about telling you. I thought about it a lot. But even if I told you, Rivers, nothing will change! I'll still be stuck here while you can go and live your life."

"..."

"Rivers? Rivers, please don't be angry."

"..."

"Rivers?"

"I'm going to visit you right now."

"No, wait-"

[hangs up]

☮️ - ☮️

2 more chapters to the end of this story!! how was this chapter?? feedback is appreciated :-)

-ohkayed