PROLUGE

My phone rings from the bedside table and I tiredly pick it up without looking at the caller ID . Who would be foolish enough to disturb my beauty sleep?

"Hello?"

There was sobbing on the other side of the line.

I squint my eyes against the glare of my phone and see an unknown number.

"Who is this and why are you calling me at such an ungodly hour?"

I was annoyed at this person for waking me up from my deep slumber.

It was probably one of my friends who had gotten drunk at a party and was having an emotional breakdown. If so they were unlucky because I wasn't one for comforting people.

It was Friday night, after all. Most of the people at our school were probably out partying until they couldn't remember their own names and yet here I was, sulking because of the argument I had earlier today.

"I-Im so sorry." I instantly jump out of bed once I recognize the voice. It was one I would know even in my sleep.

"Del? Is that you?"

She wasn't one to do stupid things and that only made me more worried. Stupid things were for me and the others to do. She was tge mother among us who was always getting us out of trouble. But today it sounded like she was in trouble instead.

"Y-Yes. It's me."

Her voice sounded hoarse and shaky, as if she'd been crying for a long time.

"Where are you? Did you get into some kind of trouble?" I put my phone on speaker and start dressing up.

She doesn't respond but only sobs harder. My heart hurt even worse and I panicked harder.

"Where are you? I'll try to get there as soon as possible." I rush downstairs.

"Please... don't." She pleads.

I stop dead in my tracks.

"What do you mean? Tell me where you are, quick!" I scream into the phone. My hands were shaking.

God please let her be alright.

Her words earlier today keep repeating in my head. I should have been more attentive!

We had been talking about random things and she had suddenly asked what would happen if she suddenly disappeared. She asked me to be happy if that ever happened.

I had laughed it off then because our lives were going good and there was no reason for trouble to come looking for us. Now I wanted to slap myself.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry."

She cries into the phone and it scares the hell out of me.

What did she have to be sorry for?

I open the door and only then do I realise it had been raining heavily.

There's a flash of lightning followed by a clap of thunder.

"Please don't ever forget me. I love you. So much." She whispers and then there's a click.

The phone slips from my hand and breaks on the floor. Just like my life afterwards.

   • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***