“I’m not mad, Flynn. I guess I’m just worried.”
“Worried. Why?” I ask her.
Why is Ellie worried? Had something happened already?
“Because I’m not sure we’ll be able to get through this.”
“Through what?”
“Me being here. You being there. It’s hard enough having a long distance relationship when you’re dealing with people without our… issues.”
“You’re saying we have issues,” I repeat.
Ellie laughs. Good, she’s happy now.
“Flynn we have so many damn issues that we could write the book on it.”
“Don’t cuss, Ellie. And I don’t want to write a book. I hate writing.” She knows that. I’d rather make sculptures or draw.
“That’s not what I’m—you know what, never mind. I should go. I’ve got to unpack and you start your new job tomorrow right?”
“Yes, I do,” I tell her. I start tapping the table again.
One. Two. Three.
“You’ll be great,” Ellie says and I smile. She makes me feel good.
I miss her.
“I miss you. I didn’t like watching your car drive away,” I tell her.
Ellie is quiet and I think she’s hung up. Why would she hang up? Did I make her mad again?
“I miss you, too,” she says and I smile because she didn’t hang up.
“You need to unpack. I can’t sleep until I unpack. It’s good to know where everything is. It’ll help you relax,” I say, wanting to tell her something that will help her.
“Thanks, Flynn. I’ll do that. And I’ll call you tomorrow.”
“When?” I ask. I like to know times. That way I can plan. Plans are good.
“I don’t know. I have to get my schedule. How about I make it a surprise?”
“Okay. Surprises are good,” I agree.
“Good luck tomorrow.”
I tap my fingers harder on the table. The thought of my job makes me nervous.
“Thanks. Good luck unpacking. And with school,” I tell her.
“I love you, Flynn,” Ellie says. It makes my stomach roll and my chest burn. It makes me smile when Ellie tells me she loves me.
No one but my mother has ever said they loved me.
No one until Ellie.
I feel good. And happy. I miss her more.
