Page 602 of Call Me Baby 2: Side B

begging him with my eyes to explain,

to move, to meet me halfway,

to do something.

But nothing.

He gives me nothing.

His hands stay buried in his pockets,

his face a terrifying void of emotion.

Every muscle in me tenses to keep from shaking. 'Cause the longer I stare at him confused, the more the horror twists into something sick,

a truth I can't stomach.

“Drew, what’s happening?”

Only silence follows.

It seems like forever as I wait,

and I wait.

Like putting a record on,

dropping the needle,

then holding your breath,

waiting to hear the crackle,

the first song finally play.

But nothing ever happens.

The silence, the stillness,

it just keeps going.

My throat tightens until it hurts.

My hand curls into a fist near my mouth—something to hide behind from the way he's looking at me.

“Why won’t you say anything?” I beg in a whisper.

Scalding tears flood my eyes

and blur his silhouette.

I can’t breathe.

I can’t fucking breathe.

I don't understand.

“Will someone t-tell—tell me⁠—