Boom.
Boom.
“Hyph,” I called out.
Silence coated the air.
“She ain’t there.”
I peered across the street, seeing Hyphen’s elderly neighbor, Mrs. Edwards, sweeping the curb.
Boom.
Boom.
Boom.
Boom.
Hyphen’s car was in the driveway. I could hear her television playing in her bedroom window. She was home.
“I said she ain’t there.”
Ignoring Mrs. Edward, I continued banging.
Boom.
Boom.
Boom.
Boom.
“You must’ve really fucked up,” Mrs. Edwards tittered.
“I did, but I love her. Tell her that. Tell her I’m in love with her stubborn ass and I’ma be back every day until she opens.”
I didn’t bother knocking again. Instead, I left the flowers I’d brought her on the porch. I shoved my hand in my pocket and pulled out my wad. I didn’t separate a dollar. I left it on top of the flowers and exited Hyphen’s yard without a dollar to my name.
Two days later…
Desperation had ledme to Saga’s crib. Still, Hyphen was nowhere in sight. It took twenty minutes of persuasion to getSaga to turn over her digits, but I’d succeeded. I was down a couple of dollars but that shit didn’t matter.
I pressed the call button for the third time in a row. The phone rang. Nonstop, eventually ending with the voicemail. I scratched my head as I waited for the beep.
“Ayo,Hyph. It’s me, baby, Flocco. Listen, I know it’s been a minute. I wanted to give you time to collect your thoughts. I know I didn’t handle our shit the way I should’ve and I need to apologize. I did then but it was different that night. Emotions were high. You know. I’ve been unfair to you.
“I could’ve been better. I should’ve been better. Shit, I still want to be better. I ain’t gave you enough reasons to believe me. But, I never want to give you another reason not to. I’m sick without you, Hyph. Life feels pointless. All the things I’ve been wanting to do, I’m finally able to do and it just doesn’t feel right.
“It doesn’t feel good. Cause you ain’t right here to celebrate with me. Pride aside, I miss you. I miss you day and I miss you night. Your smart mouth. Your smile. Your laugh. Your heart. I dreamed you lended me a moment of your time last night. I didn’t want to wake up. I didn’t.
“Cause for the first time in weeks, I didn’t feel like a failure. I felt like shit might just be aight. I don’t Hyph, I’m down bad, baby. Call me back. I just– I just need another chance. I ain’t gone fuck this one up. I want you back…”
“To replay your messa–”
I ended the call. Another attempt was at the tip of my fingers, but I refrained. Instead, I open a thread between Hyph and I, fully prepared to talk to myself.
Pick up,Hyph.
