“You’re so fucking stupid, Avery.”
***
I collected the mail from the box at the end of the long driveway before hitting the button on my visor. The garage door rattled as the floodlight came on, illuminating the driveway. I pulled the car inside next toMom’s Chevy and started sifting through the stack of envelopes and advertisements as the door rumbled to a close behind me.
Damn thing sounded like it was on its last leg. I don’t think they’ve ever had anyone here to look at it since they moved in… before I was born.
All external thoughts stopped when I came across an envelope with my name handwritten across the front. The envelope was different, and there was no return-address, but I’d know the handwriting anywhere.
James.
With new-found purpose I ripped the envelope apart and pulled out the single page of blank printer paper folded in half.
Avery,
I’m free! We’re FREE!!
Call me please, as soon as you get this! I love you, I can’t wait to hold you in my arms.
You’re my everything.
Love,
James
664-228-5585
I read the note again as my fingers began to shake. It was getting stuffy in the car and I threw the door open to let some fresh air in. I quickly collected my thingsand headed into the house.
I disabled the alarm and tossed the mail, along with my backpack, on the kitchen table as I kicked off my shoes.
I walked through the living room and double-checked the bolt on the front door before sprinting upstairs to my old bedroom. I flipped the light switch and headed straight to the air vent in the corner of the room next to the closet. I grabbed the chair from under the desk and used it to reach the ceiling. I loosened the screw and the vent dropped down. I held it with one hand and felt around inside the duct until I felt the draw-string bag and pulled it down.
I stepped off the chair as I un-cinched the bag and pulled out the burner phone I’d stashed there, among the rest of the items. An emergency credit card, and all the letters James had sent in the past. I cursed as I held down the power button, but the phone’s battery had died a long time ago.
I plugged it in on its charger, and impatiently mashed the power button until it had enough charge to illuminate the screen. My heart was racing, and I unzipped my coat and sloughed it off my shoulders, letting it hit the floor as the phone went through its powering cycle at a painfully slow rate.
I opened up a new message and punched in the phone number James had written on the note.
ME:James?
I stood there, frozen in place, staring at the screen. I had so much fear, and so much hope at the same time. I couldn’t believe the day had finally come when I was actually texting him, texting James!
Not some letter that was going to take three weeks for him to even receive, let alone answer. A text. Instant. Direct link. I was becoming more anxious by the second as I waited for his reply.
What if hedidn’treply?
The intrusive thought played back and forth across my mind as I tried to reason with myself.
“Of course he’s going to respond. Why wouldn’t he? This is the day we’ve both been waiting for.”
Right?
I made an ugly, involuntary snorting noise of surprise as the phone buzzed in my hand.
664-228-5585:Avery? Is that you?
Chapter Nine
