There is no response, so I keep typing. If he never speaks to me again after this, then so be it. I did my part.
Aleeza:There were search parties all over campus at first. And in the city. It was on the news a lot, but not as much anymore. On Saturday November 6, you were seen in East House in the evening, and you haven’t been seen or heard from since.
He still doesn’t respond, so I keep going.
Aleeza:There are no leads. No one has any idea what happened to you. That’s why I’m here now. You were officially unenrolled from the university this week.
Finally, Jay responds.
Jay:Shit. That’s why you told me to stay away from the dorm that day.
Aleeza:Yeah, I don’t know how to prove it to you. I can’t send you pictures or articles from the future on ResConnect. I can cut and paste the text from an article, but there’s no way to prove that I didn’t make it all up. But trust me, it’s true.
There is no answer for a while.
Aleeza:Are you still there? I can cut and paste some articles.
Jay:I’m still here. Am I dead?
Aleeza:I don’t know. I’m so sorry. No one knows where you are. You probably don’t believe me.
Jay:Why wouldn’t I believe you? You’re my roommate. How
He doesn’t finish the sentence.
Aleeza:You still there?
Jay:Yeah, how’s my mom doing?
Aleeza:I don’t know. I don’t know any of your friends to ask.
Jay:Let me read the articles.
Into the chat, I cut and paste the text from several articles published right after he disappeared. It’s going to take him a bit of time to read them. I feel terrible for Jay. When I first read them months ago, it all seemed so juicy—an actual student at my own school the subject of a huge mystery. But now, Jay is a real person who calls me “Roomie,” and who insisted we’d split the profits from a sports-betting scheme. This is a hell of a thing for him to learn while alone in his room.
Ourroom. I am here with him, even if we can’t see each other.
Aleeza:You okay, Jay?
Jay:This is all so wild. Like reading about something that happened to someone else, but it’s me.
Aleeza:Do you know what could have happened? Or what will happen?
Jay:Someone must have done something to me. I wouldn’t have run away. Not from my family.
Aleeza:I heard there’s a group of girls who are stalking you.
Jay:Seriously?
Aleeza:Maybe. An ex of yours, Emma, might be one of them.
Jay:Emma Coffey?
Aleeza:Yes, she spoke to the school newspaper saying you were cheating on her.
Jay:I wasn’t seriously dating her. We hooked up a few times.
Aleeza:Why did it end?
