Road

Road

For a long time, we didn’t hear from each other. Then one day, as I was sifting through my piles of email, I found a deeply familiar name that made me want to laugh and cry at the same time. My voracious eyes read each word as if it was food. And I immediately responded back. The next day, there was another one. And that’s how the weekly emails became daily.

One night, as I sat on my bed alone in my dorm room, we were online chatting. At first, it was the same light-hearted talk we had when we asked the other of what was happening on the end. But the words became painful and you started typing slower. When I finally asked what was wrong, I just knew that everything was going to spill out. Though I couldn’t hear or see you, I knew you were crying.

You: everything is going wrong

My students aren’t listening to me

I’m such a failure

I wish you were here beside me again

I waited patiently for you dump everything off onto my prepared shoulders before lending my advice. The whooshing stream of words started to slow and finally ended. Choosing my words carefully, I started to respond. I told you to relax and offered some advice that I had learned from my friends. Finally, I drained my pool of advice.

Me: I just want to let you know

No matter where the road ends, even if you can’t see the end, I’ll be with you.

No matter how rough the road might be, I’ll only be just a phone call away.

You: Really? Promise?

Me: I promise.

You: (after a moment) Thank you so much…

Sighing, I smile. And, because I knew you couldn’t hear, though somewhere not so deep desperately wished that you could, I murmured. “Please be mine.”

 

Author's Note

Any suggestions?