Page 39 of Only ever you-Ana & Byron
"Say the word, Ana. You know I would do anything for even a scrap from you."
Ana's breath caught, but she didn't respond right away.
She sat up.
"I'm leaving for Johannesburg in three days."
He sat up, too. "How long for?"
"Six months. Maybe more."
He looked like he wanted to say something.
But he nodded. "Right. 'Course you are."
She touched his hand briefly.
"Take care of yourself, Ana. Can I call you sometimes?"
Ana only nodded, suddenly overcome with confusing emotions.
Then she stood and left the room without another word.
Byron lay back down on the bed, arms behind his head, eyes to the ceiling.
It was the same as seven years ago. She was leaving. Again.
***
Chapter eighteen
Text Wars
Twelve months after the funeral
Byron:Ur dad’s a menace. just offered me tofu burgers and tried to convert me with a dad talk. help.he said they “cleanse the blood.”
is this a threat?
Ana:He’s on his annual “artery-awareness” kick. Mum’s convinced if he eats one more egg he’ll explode.
For the record: I ate a lamb kebab in front of her just last week.
Byron:good. was startin to think u’d gone veggie.
was gonna stage an intervention.
Ana:I’m many things, Roberton. Starving isn’t one of them.
FYI, they’re not burgers, they’re bean patties.And he was being polite. You did call Manchester “a grey industrial misery pit” at dinner, I heard.
Byron:bc it is?? And I was pulling his leg.
And hecame for my city. so I asked if Sicily even had electricity yet.and tofu smells like bin juice
Ana:You didn’t. And I may agree with that.
Byron:I did.
