Midnight Grey

Chapter 10 Broken

My cellphone buzzes causing me to jerk straight up in bed. I turn to it and stare as if it's a foreign object on my nightstand. Part of me wanting to squash my phone like a cockroach. Grabbing it I don't even look before I answer, "Hello?" I groan. My head is hazy like I took a bunch of sleeping pills.

"Did I wake you?" the voice is apprehensive. In Kyle's pause I stay silent. "I'm sorry about last night. I shouldn't have said that. When you trusted me with something like that..." his voice tinged with pain. "I thought about it over and over again. I even went to Austin..." his tone is strained as if the words coming out tear at him and cut him deep.

"You don't need to explain."

"Lynnette?" he sounds drained of all energy.

"Yes?" I lean forward like the motion will bring me closer to him.

Kyle's voice comes out worn, ravaged and with a sincerity which sounds like his entire heart is in his words. "I'm sorry."

"There is nothing to forgive." I say as guilt starts to flood my veins.

"Lynnette?" The anguish is still in his tone.

"No, listen. I should have told you sooner." My voice begins to shake.

"Lynnette." His tone is softer now, my own lullaby. "Don't, I understand why you didn't tell me." He pauses. "Will you meet me later today? I'd love to see you, so we can talk or even just be together to forget about this for a little while." He waits silently.

"When and where?" I say without hesitation.

"Well, I need to do a few things first." He lingers on the last word as if he's thinking about what exactly he has to do. "Can I call you this afternoon?"

"Of course."

Kyle sighs like a weight has been lifted. "Okay I'll see you later then." His tone perking up.

"Yeah, see you then."

"Lynnette, I..."he stops.

"You what?"

"Um nothing. I'll talk to you later."

"Okay." I say, wondering what he wanted to say. We say goodbye and I lean back on my bed. Everything is right in the world as the sun shines into my room. I stretch my arms like a cat and think about how the day won't be like last night.

Last Night. My stomach lurches as I think of Austin. Dread sweeps over me as I remember the text message on his phone. The date for my dream is coming up soon.

The thought is an ignition to make myself go into full throttle of finding a solution to assure Kyle lives. Though, every time I believe I found an answer, I come up empty handed. I think and think, until my head aches, and my stomach becomes so tight I could retch. Taking a break, I decide to take a shower.

As I leave the bathroom, a beep comes from my phone.

A voicemail from Kyle

"Lynnette. I'm done...running my errands. I believe it's been a rough time for the both of us. I'm planning on going to Shadeland Park. I want to enjoy the scenery and who knows I might get some inspiration watching the families. I'll be on the Eastside of the park by the tree where I took the picture of you with the lilies. Hope to see you soon."