The Third Word

Chapter 3

While mom and dad were shopping, I slipped away quietly and asked the receptionist to make a call from the landline.

I had memorized a few numbers which were of mom's, dad's, our landline and Stace's for emergencies.

I punched her number on the rotatory phone, which was satisfying as I rotated the dial for each digit.

"Hello?"

"It's me, Gwen." I said.

"Where are you calling from?" She asked.

"The mall. My phone died. Anyway, just wanted to inform you tha-" I was in the middle of my sentence when I heard mom,"Honey what are you doing?"

I turned and answered," Just had to call Stace. It's important. Something about a project that we have to submit tomorrow." I lied.

"Teens these days." She sighed and looked away.

"Yeah so," I continued on the phone with Stace," I texted-"

"Are you still there? I can't hear you." She spoke.

"Huh? Now? Hello?"

"I think you're not there. I'll hang up." She said and hung up.

"That's weird." I said, putting the phone back on the desk.

I forgot about him after we returned from the mall. My perspective towards him changed completely. I didn’t want to talk to him anymore.

12th November

When I went to school, there were whispers everywhere. Everyone was discussing something which was not to be said out loud.

It wasn’t about Prom because everyone looked terrified and shocked.

“What’s up with everyone’s faces?” I asked my desk-mate even though we hardly talked apart from borrowing stuff.

“You don’t know?" She asked back.

These types of people really waste my words.

"Why would I ask if I knew?" I sighed.

"Right, you're anti-social. I didn't expect you to know anyway."

"Tell me what's going on." I ordered.

"Ethan committed suicide.”

“WHAT?!” I shrieked and shocked the whole class.

How did that happen? I talked to him the previous night when he texted weirdly and the next day he was found dead?

Those were his last words?!

But why would he text me? and what did the third word mean? What else did he want to type?

I couldn’t understand a thing. And the biggest question was- Why did he kill himself?

I felt like a huge rock was tied to my chest and I was thrown into the sea.

I took a sick leave and sprinted back home.

Home-

“Gwen? Why are you here?” mom asked as she opened the door.

“I was having a migraine. I’ll go rest in my room.” I ran upstairs.

“Oh, you look sick. I won’t disturb you then.” I heard mom speak from behind me as she continued to watch TV in the hall.

I shut the door behind me and latched it. I opened my laptop to re-read our conversation and tried to de-code the third word.

Maybe he was giving me a clue about something. What could he have meant by ‘qurness’?

His fans were commenting like crazy on his recent post which was from 2nd November.

Comments-

-he can't die!!!

-why would he k1ll himself

-his brother knows sth?

-he was a celeb he had haters ok? He was depressed ig

-yea he might be dep cuz he stopped the live stream and videos

-RIP Ethan we love u

-this is disheartening

-he was prolly murd3red

-shut up who would

-it was his bday why would he die

-DOB became DOD lmao

-shut up u assh0le

-its cuz of u stupid haters that celebs go in depress1on

-we luv u always

-he had a perfect life oml if I were him I would go to Miami

-anyone knows how he k1lled himself?

-he stabbed himself ig

I was in tears and I couldn’t go ahead.

I didn’t tell anyone that I might’ve been the last person he talked to. I couldn’t dare to.

I thought that this secret would not be known by anyone ever but there was someone who knew.

I stayed in my room the whole day. I was having panic attacks. Ethan was dead. I couldn’t think straight. I didn’t dare to tell anyone, not even my parents.

What if they arrested me or enquired me about it? Everyone would think I was behind it and I'm already a loner in school. I just want to finish school peacefully.

It was just traumatizing that Ethan wasn’t in this world anymore. I hid the chat instead of deleting it.

I thought I wasn’t in the right state to de-code that third word so I decided to do it later.

13th November

When I woke up, I found myself sitting on the floor, leaning on the wall behind me. I didn’t even have the consciousness of sleeping on my bed.

Mom entered my room when I was about to go to the bathroom.

“Honey, I know we shouldn’t talk about something like this early in the morning but someone from your school committed suicide?” she asked.

“Who told you that?” I asked because there was no way they would find out unless...

“It’s on TV. They’re saying he was from your school.” She answered.

I ran downstairs to the living room where my dad was watching the News.

"The eldest son of Mr. Miler, a well-known Businessman was found dead last night in his room. Ethan Miler was a high schooler. His father says the death was unexpected. Ethan is said to have committed suicide. He stabbed himself once with a 12 Inches long knife and died due to a heavy loss of blood. After investigating the scene, the police have found nothing on the spot indicating a murder and have declared that it was a suicide. Ethan’s friends and family will be investigated soon about his mental condition and signs of depression." The reporter spoke.

“Gwen, if you ever feel lonely or something bothers you, talk to us alright?” Dad said softly. He was afraid I would end up like Ethan but I wasn’t that of a weakling. I would never kill myself.

“Did you get along well with him?” Mom asked me.

“I didn’t even know him.” I lied.

“It’s got nothing to do with our daughter so don’t ask her.” dad told mom.

“I’ll…get ready for school.” I said and went upstairs.