SOFIA: ur really coming?
ME: Yes.
SOFIA: don’t miss the connection
ME: Planning not to.
SOFIA: that’s not a promise
I looked at the confirmation again.Seat 34A. Johannesburg to Doha. Doha to Dulles. Arrive 3:42 p.m. October 23.
ME: I’ll be there.
The next message took longer.
SOFIA: ok
SOFIA: good
Then:
SOFIA: don’t be weird in the stands
A breath left me. It sounded almost human.
ME: No promises.
SOFIA: dad
ME: I’ll be there. Quietly.
SOFIA: love u
My hand tightened around the phone until the edge pressed into my bandaged palm.
ME: Love you too, baby.
I stood there in the cooling steam for another few seconds, phone in hand, water dripping from my hair onto the tile.
Then I opened Juliette’s contact.
For thirty seconds, I stared at the blank message field.
Booked a flight to see Sofiasounded too large.
You were rightsounded worse.
I typed before I could make it efficient enough to hide behind.
ME:Sofia asked me to come for Homecoming. I booked the flight. Dulles, Oct. 23.
Her reply came two minutes later.
JULIETTE:Good.
Then:
JULIETTE:Don’t turn it into a maybe later.
