Forgotten Souls

Chapter 21: Text Messages And Confessions

I told Zeya to put my phone back, and that I didn’t want to read the message until I got home, scared that I might just turn back. She did what I asked and tried her best to distract me from my phone laying there with an unopened text from Zaylee.

At around 8:30 P.M. we arrived home. I decided that Zaylee had been waiting about 7 hours for me to text her back so surely another 10 minutes wouldn’t hurt her and so I went to take a shower before reading her text. After the shower, I lay down on my bed and for the first time in almost 9 hours, I take a look at what my phone says.

Braydon, I know you’re probably home already.. Or maybe not.. It is a long drive.. I don’t want to bother you.. and now I’m babbling, I just wanted to say Hi. So Hi. :) - Zaylee

Good evening Zaylee. I practically arrived home about a half an hour ago. You are right about it being a long drive, but the trip there was completely worth it. How are you?

I’m good thanks. Glad you’re safe home! How are you?

Did she really mean that she was glad that I was safe at home? Did she actually worry about me? All I knew was that I didn’t want to stop her texting me, so I decided not to press her about her comment.

Honestly? I’m alright thanks. Didn’t think you’d be messaging me again. I kind of thought the message this morning was the end of last night.

Yeah..  I kind of surprised myself there too. I really did intend to ‘lose’ your number. Guess my skills at losing things aren’t that great yet.

I smiled at the text from her for a moment. For just a second it felt like things were okay between us again. Her joking around with me, texting me. It excited and frightened me at the same time. I didn’t want to attach myself to her again. I didn’t want to go through the struggle of not being able to talk to her again.

"Hey, Zay.. Thank you, for texting me.”

“No Bray.. Thank you for texting me back.”

“Do you.. At the risk of chasing you away again.. can I ask you something?”

“Fire away Bray, we’re already 7 hours apart. Not much a message can do now anyway/ ;)”

“Do you ever think about us?”

I wait for a reply, but after an hour of her still not replying, I give up on expecting that she will reply. I seriously do know how to mess things up don’t I? I just get her to talk to me again and now I scared her away again by asking personal questions that I shouldn’t be asking. It was around 11 P.M. when  I  finally fell asleep.

At around 3 A.M.  my phone chimes, informing me that I have a new message. At first I wanted to ignore it, but then again, it might be an emergency and my mom or someone might need me for some reason. So instead of falling back asleep, I open my messages. Nothing, however, prepared me for what I read.

Bray, It’s me Zaylee.. I know how much you hate it when unknown numbers call you, so I decided to text you from Jeremy’s phone. I apologize for not texting you back. I was about to.. but something happened. Anyway.. just letting you know, my answer to your question is Yes. All the time. :)

She actually texted me back. What could have happened that she couldn’t continue sending her message to me? I immediately wanted to phone the number she texted me on just to hear her voice. Just to make sure that she was alright, but what would I say to her? She answered me though.. her answer is yes. She thinks about us too. Does this mean she misses me?

Zay, can I call you?

Sure Bray.

I immediately press the call button once I have selected the number. My heart is thudding in my chest as if I had just ran a marathon, but I don’t care. I need to hear her voice.

“Hey Braydon. I’m sorry that I woke you up.. I just.. I just didn’t want you to think I was ignoring you, so I replied as soon as I could.”

“Buttercup, it’s okay. Your voice sounds hoarse, were you crying? Are you alright?”

“Braydon.. Did you ever find my diary in the old apartment? I forgot it there when I moved.”

“Yes.. I uh.. I did and I’m sorry but I ready it.. I felt lost with you gone, and I just wanted to feel closer to you, so I read it. I’m sorry. I know I shouldn’t have.”

“So you know about the doctors report?”

The doctors report? Is she referring to the letter telling her that she has cancer? I realize that I’ve been lost in my thoughts and quickly reply to her.

“Yes.. I know about your cancer Zaylee.. but what does that have to do with you sounding like you were crying?”

“Bray.. I’m.. I’m in the hospital.. I started feeling extremely dizzy while I was messaging you. I tried going down the stairs to Jeremy’s room, but I fell and ended up being unconscious for  about two hours.”