Page 64 of Beneath Cherry Blossom Memories

Oliver: Merry Christmas.

My breath whooshes out of my lungs as I reread the text five times. He ignored all my other texts except the last one. I’d told him I missed him and wanted to talk. This is his reply?Merry Christmas?

Groaning, I quickly write back.

Are you coming?

Minutes pass, and he leaves me on read.

Guess not.

Kelly greets me when I get home later. She’s still wrapped up like an ornament, her knit Christmas sweater has actual lights flickering on it and her santa hat is lopsided on her head. She must’ve just gotten here, too. Through a gnarly burp, she pulls me in for a bear hug and mutters something about throwing up.

“Not in the sink!” I call as she rushes to the bathroom, the door slamming.

A flicker of a smile passes my lips before it dims.

Helios strolls over to me, rubs my legs, and meows loudly. “I know, baby. I’ll get it.”

He follows me into the kitchen, where I get his wet food can and dump it into his dish. I watch him eat, vaguely aware of Kelly hurling in the background, and pull out my phone—still nothing from Oli.

I miss you.

Can we please meet up soon?

The texts are sent, but after five minutes and the toilet flushing, it still shows as sent, not read. Frustrated and heartbroken, I go to put it back in my pocket, but it buzzes. My heart skips a fuckingbeat, and I look down at the screen.

Not Oli…it’s Jorge. He’s calling me.

“Hey,” I say and wander over to the couch.

“Are you home?” he asks, whispering.

“Yeah? What’s up?”

“Are you sitting down?”

I glance at my bent legs. “Dude, what’s going on?”

“Are you?” he insists.

“Yes. Fuck, man. Yes.”

There’s a long, tense pause while I hold my breath. “I think,” he pauses, “shit, I think…”

“Spit it out.” Seriously, this delayed effect isn’t helping my nerves.

“I think Eli tried to kill himself tonight.”

“WHAT!?” I shoot to my feet, my free hand flying to the top of my head. “The fuck? When? Where? Is he okay? Where is he?”

“He’s at my house.”

“I’ll be there.”

I hang up, hands shaking.

A million thoughts shoot through my head. What happened? What did he do? How did Jorge find out? What’s he doing at Jorge’shouse? A flare of jealousy zips through my chest, but I squash it. Eli doesn’t have anyone. I’m it, and after he left me high and dry last week, I can only imagine how desperate he must’ve been to callmybest friend.

---