Hero (Tom Hiddleston)

7

"Hey, Shae. It's Kyran. Again. If it wasn't for your message, I wouldn't even think this was your phone anymore, but, uh, I know... it's been a long time. I just... I miss my best friend. I'm worried about you. You're completely MIA and have been for nine months... none of the guys can get a hold of you. I know I've said all this a million times before. I get why you're not answering... I know you were never the same after your dad, and then your mom... I'm so sorry. Again. Just... if you need anything, I'm here. If you wanna talk. If there's anybody I need to beat up. I'm on leave in a few weeks, so I'm gonna be in the neighborhood... if you want a buddy to marathon Marvel movies with or something. I'm sure you've already seen Infinity War, but in case you haven't... I'd take you. Yeah. I'm here. Just... please shoot me a text or something. I need to know you're alright. I love you."

"New message 321."

"Hey, Baby Girl. You know it's Burns again. I'm sorry I keep bugging you, Sweetheart, but I... I made your daddy a promise that I'd keep an eye on you if anything ever happened. I know I'll never be able to fathom the kind of pain you must have been in for the last several months, but I'm still here to listen. I'd love to know you're okay. I'm praying for you. I love you."

"New message 322."

"Shae, it's Nick again. I know it's been a long time, but we still miss you around here. I'm also still here to talk if you want to. Or if you need anything. You're still one of my kids, and I love you very much. The church door is always open, and so is mine. I'm praying for you."

"New message 323."

"It's Grey again, Shae. I'm really worried about my favorite student. I know it's been nine months, but I also know it must still hurt really bad. Kaylynn says you're not even at dance anymore. Please give me a call... come back to youth group... something. I'm here for you. I love you."

"New message 324."

"Hey, Girl, it's Kaylynn... again. I still miss you. A lot. Dance isn't the same without you. And I know you're still at school, but it's... like you're not. I love you. Give me a call, yeah?"

"Shae... Kyran again. I'm not gonna burden you with another poorly-worded mini-speech, but... you know. Like I said, I'll be in town in a couple of weeks, and... I'd love to see you. I really need to know my best friend is okay."

"New message 325."

"Hey, General. Risto again. We promised your Daddy we'd take care of you, you know. Give me a call, okay? I love you."

"New message 326."

"Grey again. I love you. I'm here for you. I'm praying for you. Text me. Call me."

"New message 327."

"By now, you know it's Kyran. I know I've left you like a million messages and even more texts. But I'm not gonna stop until I hear from you. Please call me back. I really need to see you when I'm in town."

"End of new messages."

Shae let out a long sigh, lowering the phone from her ear and staring at it dully. It was nearly midnight. With only a short break to try to choke down some supper, she'd been on her phone since she'd started earlier that afternoon. She'd charged it while she'd been eating, and now it was nearly dead again. And she hadn't even gone onto any of her socials. All she'd done was read her 1277 text messages and listen to her 327 voice mails. She didn't even know what to think. She couldn't honestly understand why people were still trying.

Of course, not everyone was. From the furthest back, at the start of the nine months she'd lived in that hell, plenty of her friends had been making attempts, as well as some of her mother's friends, more of her dad's friends, several more youth leaders, and likewise.