Missed call from The Bro
Missed call from The Bro
The Bro:U coming
Missed call from The Bro
The Bro:Getting Nai Nai and heading home
Nai Nai:I amp taking the buss with Zixin
In for six.
Hold.
Out for six.
I use my breath to force away the feeling that started it. It’s not that bad. They took the bus. They’re okay. They’re still here.
They’re still here.
I knock my head on the shelving.
They’re still here.
I hit it again. Letting the sting of my scalp push out the hurt in my soul.
Again.
Again.
Until the ache overtakes my focus and the thoughts that torment me are fleeing.
They weren’t taken. But next time they might be. I have to be better than this. I can’t get lost in my stupid head. I can’t get lost inhim.
I need to set an alarm.
I open my phone and tap the clock app. I go into the notifications and set one for three p.m. every weekday. There. Now I’ll have plenty of warning to get him.
The breath leaves me in a long sigh, and I take one more, deep and slow. It cleanses some of the ache from my heart. But not all.
I scoff as I consider calling Rhazan. What a feast my pain would be for him right now. But I can’t call him. I can’t call him ever again. He’s a distraction. I need to get this shop running. I need to make money. I need to keep it together.
I need to keepustogether.
The band around my middle squeezes again. I deliberately breathe into it. My heart slows. I take the time to count the number of shelves on the wall opposite me. I count the runes Rhazan seared into the pillars that I need to cover. I count howmany times I wished I’d called him here since my panic attack started.
My astral body shivers as I feel Zixin and Nai Nai get close. I jump off the floor and wipe the tears from my cheeks, then run out to the shop to open the door. The hinges squeal, and a draft of cool air rushes in, carrying the faint smell of woodsmoke.
Zixin is just a few strides away on the pavement.
“Hey, bud, how was school?” I ask, my voice strained.
He barely meets my gaze. “Fine.”
“Nice. I’m really sorry—”
“It’s cool,” he says, cutting off my apology.
