Bass Case

Chapter 11: Trust

Sarah... Why? Was I not good enough? Did I not support you enough? I thought....I thought nothing could tear us apart... My head grows cloudy with these thoughts as I weave my way through the sea of people. I bump into a few people on accident. My feet stumble on the concrete, and I make my way back into the grass. The trees dangle their thick limbs above me. The sky tints to a cool grey, and I feel water run down my face. I look up at the sky only to realize that the water came from myself. I wipe my eyes with the back of my pale hand, trying to hold myself together. How could she...?

My phone vibrates in my hand, and my heart leaps for a moment, hoping that it is her, calling to explain the situation I just witnessed. To tell me it was all just some misunderstanding. But it wasn't. Angelica's name appears at the top of the glass screen. A text message reads, "Did you find her?"

I bite the inside of my cheek as I simply reply with, "Yes."

"Is she with you now?" She continues.

I can feel the edge of my mouth twitch down as I reply, "No."

"Where is she at?"

"Student Union."

"What is she doing?"

I hesitate. Seeing another guy... Holding hands with another guy... Probably out on a date with another guy... I don't want to respond, but she will probably only start spamming me if I don't or call me if I don't respond which I would hate for her to hear me in this moment. So I respond with the honest truth which is, "I don't know. She was with someone, so I didn't bother her."

"Oh, ok." Was the final reply before switching the topic. "When are you coming home? I was hoping that you could help me with this piece I'm working on."

My heart clenches in my chest. I don't even think I want to go home now. I don't want to see the walls of the apartment we've shared for months now. I don't want to see the familiarity of her sister reflected in her. "I'm not sure yet."

Suddenly the picture of Sarah's face flashes onto the screen. Her bright white smile fills the dull surroundings of the picture with her joy. She wears a thick red jacket and her brown eyes sparkle with a majestic brilliance. My heart pounds in my chest hard with a mix of melancholy and anticipation. My thumb hovers over the answer button, I take a deep breath, and I press it. "Hello?" I utter, trying my best to hide the strain in my voice.

    "Hi, honey. Sorry I missed your call. Do you need something?" Sarah says, speaking in the same loving voice as usual. It's like she doesn't even care if she's leading me on...

    "Uh, no....I was just wondering where you were." I reply honestly.

    "Oh, I came to the school to check up on something." She replies.

    "Oh..." I grow silent for a bit, debating whether or not to call her out on what I saw. I chew on my lip in thought for a while until Sarah finally questions the lingering silence.

    "Honey. Are you okay?"

    "Yeah, yeah...I'm just fine. So what were you doing?"

    "It's a secret." She says. I hear the muttering of someone in the background. I can hear her fumble around the phone until her voice cuts through the speakers sharply, "Okay! Well if that's all I'll see you later alright!"

    "Yeah." I say, "Can I meet you now?"

    "Uhhh. Right now isn't the best time."

    My heart sinks with every negative thought that soaks into my mind. It's like an infection, slowly consuming me until I decompose. "Okay..." I utter softly. "Sarah. I love you."