identity thief

f o u r

three| E M B R Y

I sighed, resting my elbows on the kitchen counter while swirling my spoon absent mindedly in my hot cocoa, the cream bright in comparison to the dark, thick liquid underneath. Lifting the mug delicately off the table with my sweater adorned hands, the warm steam rose to my face in a heavy cloud, and I shivered in peaceful bliss before taking a small sip. Peering over the rim of the cup, I spotted the digital numbers above the kitchen oven. 3:15. Setting down the mug, I pressed the power button on my smart phone to see nothing but a blank home screen. Sighing once more, I gave one last look to my phone before placing it back down on the counter next to my cup and getting up to look around.

Walking into the living room, my gaze locked onto a wall as I made my way over. Reaching up, I took a photo from where it stood on the shelf, a small smile gracing my lips at the touching sight. It was a picture of the boys in a dance room, and from the look of it, they were still in their trainee days. The twins had their arms loosely swung around each other, a humor filled smile adorning both their lips, while Zelo was on Beomseok's back, hair a ruffled mess yet still looking more carefree and joyous than I had ever thought he was capable of. And then there was Yen-

The phone,

The phone is ringing.

Startled, I drop the picture, and as if it was in slow motion, I watched in horror as the frame gently but surely fell to the ground.

The phone,

We'll be right there.

With glass shards scattered everywhere, I quickly dropped to my knees to pick up the loose pieces, vaguely aware that the phone was ringing quite loudly and desperately hoping it wouldn't wake any of the members. Picking up all the glass I could see, I quickly got up and rushed over to the kitchen counter, managing to stub my toe on the corner of the couch on the way over.

"Holy sh-"

I stooped mid-sentence, afraid of waking the members up, and silently winced before hobbling my way over to the counter, my toe achingly throbbing.

The phone,

The phone is ringing.

There's an animal in trou-

"Ahn E- Hanuel speaking."

"Embry!"

My sister's shrill voice blasted through the speaker and I winced, quick to tilt my head away from the phone.

"Aish, Rae, seriously, you really need to stop shouting through the phone!"

Her badly disguised giggling could be heard throughout the speaker and I sighed before pushing myself up onto the kitchen stool, balancing my smart phone between my ear and shoulder while both my hands were still full of glass.

"It's been two days since you last called me! How could I not be excited?!"

"Well, you're not the one who as to wake up at 3 fucking a.m. to just have a chat!"

"Oh, language dear child, we don't need you showing off you foul mouth to those boys. Good impressions matter."

I blew out an angry puff of air, a loose piece of my hair flying in frenzy before gently landing on my nose. I glared at it as I twitched my nose impatiently in an attempt to move it.

"Who –puff cares – puff I'm –puff loosing –puff sleep – puff andIstubbedmytoe –puff."

I felt my eye twitch in annoyance as the string of hair once again floated softly on the bridge of my nose for what felt like the twentieth time.