Me
I'll show him when he's up. Be safe in Chicago.
Perfectly polite and friendly. I don't even have time to feel the sting of her being gone a few days before another text comes.
Lily
You're up late.
Me
So are you.
Lily
Nervous flyer. Always losing things. Hard to sleep. What's your excuse?
Me
On and off shifts mess up my sleep sometimes.
Lily
Sucks.
Me
Yup. What's in Chicago?
Lily
My parents are in town.
Me
Happy for you.
She hearts the message.
I am genuinely happy for her. That is a feeling I'm getting used to where she's concerned. She never says she misses her parents. It doesn't take long in her company to know Lily runs toward family like other people run toward exits. Rome seems to have made peace with their childhood while Lily seems to be stubbornly hoping for something better.
Lily
Whatcha doing?
I look at the food in front of me.
Me
Eating. You?
Three dots appear. Disappear.
Lily
That would sound better without punctuation
I put my phone face-down on the counter like it burned me. She's going to be the end of me, that is the only logical conclusion. She's decided to dismantle me one small,targeted strike at a time from the comfort of her own apartment while I sit in my own home completely unable to do anything about it.
