The Timing Between Us

I Miss You

Clara

The rain outside had already stopped.

Only the soft sound of water dripping from somewhere outside my apartment remained while I sat on the floor surrounded by old photographs and memories I didn’t realize I still kept.

Or maybe

Memories that kept me instead.

I picked up another picture from the box carefully.

Second grade.

Me with two ponytails and an aggressively missing front tooth.

Beside me was Reig looking deeply unimpressed by life already.

Some things never changed.

I laughed softly before turning the photo around.

At the back, written in messy handwriting:

Clara cried because of chocolate again.

— M.

I blinked once.

Then immediately groaned.

“Oh my God.”

The memory returned instantly.

And unfortunately

So did the embarrassment.

***

Second grade.

Still classmates.

Still seatmates.

Because apparently the universe decided Reig Miller was my lifelong responsibility.

Not that I minded.

By second grade, talking to him already felt natural.

Well

Mostly me talking.

Reig still preferred silence over unnecessary conversations, but compared to first grade, he talked more now.

At least to me.

And most importantly

He no longer looked lonely all the time.

That alone made child-me feel weirdly accomplished.

That particular day started with me begging my mother dramatically for extra allowance.

“Please?”

“No.”

“Please?”

“You already have chocolate.”

“But I need two.”

“Why?”

I froze briefly.

Because apparently seven-year-old me still didn’t know how to lie properly.

“…For emotional support?”

My mom looked unconvinced but still handed me enough money anyway.

Victory.

So before class started, I proudly bought two chocolates from the school canteen.

One for me.

One for Reig.

Not because I liked him.

Obviously.

I just liked giving him things.

Because every time I handed him snacks, he accepted them quietly even though he clearly preferred salty food over sweets.

And for some reason

That made me happy.

During morning break, I excitedly placed the chocolates inside my desk while waiting for the perfect moment to give him one.

But before I could

“Clara,” our teacher suddenly called from the doorway. “Come here for a moment.”

I immediately stood up obediently.

And because I trusted society too much

I left the chocolates on my desk.

Big mistake.

Huge mistake.

When I returned a few minutes later

One chocolate was gone.

And the remaining evidence of the crime was standing directly beside my desk.

Jack Hernandez.

Class menace.

Future tax evader probably.

He froze the moment he saw me staring at him.

Meanwhile

Chocolate covered his mouth.

I narrowed my eyes slowly.

“Jack.”

“It wasn’t me.”

“You’re chewing.”

“No, I’m not.”

“You literally have chocolate on your face.”

He wiped his mouth aggressively.

“Proof?”

I stared at him in disbelief.

At seven years old this boy already acted like a corrupt politician.

“That was for someone!”

Jack shrugged carelessly.

“Then buy another one.”

And somehow

That made me cry.

Not graceful crying.

Not quiet crying.

Full dramatic second-grade emotional devastation.

Because I only had enough money for two chocolates.

And now the one meant for Reig was gone.

Jack immediately panicked.

“Why are you crying?!”

“Because you’re annoying!”

“It’s just chocolate!”

“IT WAS IMPORTANT!”

Unfortunately my crying only became louder afterward.

Several classmates started staring.

One kid even looked emotionally invested already.

Meanwhile Jack looked seconds away from confessing all his sins.

Then suddenly

A familiar voice spoke behind us.

“What happened?”

Reig.

Jack looked relieved immediately.

“Nothing.”

“She’s crying because of chocolate.”

“I am not crying because of chocolate!”

“You are literally crying right now.”

I glared at Jack through tears.

Reig frowned slightly before looking at me properly.

And immediately

His expression changed.

Small.

Subtle.

But noticeable.

Even back then

Reig never liked seeing me cry.

“What happened?” he asked again quieter this time.

Jack pointed dramatically.

“She’s overreacting.”

“I bought two chocolates,” I sniffed sadly. “One was for me and one was for Reig but this criminal ate it.”

Jack gasped.

“Criminal?!”

Reig blinked once before slowly turning toward Jack.

And honestly?

For a seven-year-old, he looked weirdly intimidating.

Jack noticed too because suddenly he looked nervous.

“I said sorry already.”

“You didn’t.”

“…I was about to.”

Reig stared at him silently for a few seconds longer before sighing softly.

Then he turned back to me.

Unfortunately

I was still crying.

Which clearly stressed him out.

Because Reig Miller, second grader edition, had absolutely no idea how to comfort people.

He awkwardly stood there for several seconds while I sniffled dramatically.

Then suddenly

He made a face.

I blinked.

He crossed his eyes horribly while puffing his cheeks out like an angry fish.

It looked ridiculous.

I stared at him in complete shock.

Then another face.

Even worse this time.

And somehow

A laugh escaped me accidentally.

Reig immediately looked relieved.

“There,” he muttered quietly. “Better.”

I wiped my tears while laughing weakly.

“You look ugly.”

“You cried over chocolate.”

“That was emotional damage.”

“That was diabetes.”

I gasped dramatically.

Then for the first time that day

Reig smiled fully.

Not tiny.

Not almost.

A real smile.

Bright enough that second-grade me forgot why I was crying in the first place.

Then quietly

Reig reached out and wiped the remaining tears from beneath my eyes using his sleeve.

“You cry too much,” he teased softly.

I sniffed proudly.

“I’m expressive.”

“You’re noisy.”

“You still like me.”

The moment the words left my mouth

I froze.

Because apparently my child self had zero filter.

Meanwhile Reig blinked at me once.

Then unexpectedly

His ears turned red.

Jack screamed from the background immediately.

“OHHHHHH!”

“I DIDN’T MEAN IT LIKE THAT!”

Unfortunately the damage was already done.

And for the next three days, Jack barked fake kissing noises every time Reig sat beside me.

Worst week of my life.

But the next morning

Something unexpected happened.

I arrived at school still traumatized from the public humiliation yesterday only to find something sitting on top of my desk.

A paper bag.

Small.

Slightly crumpled.

Confused, I opened it carefully.

Then my eyes widened.

Inside were chocolates.

A lot of chocolates.

Different kinds.

Different colors.

Enough sugar to potentially hospitalize a second grader.

“What’s that?”

I looked up immediately.

Reig stood beside my chair holding his bag quietly.

I blinked repeatedly before looking back at the chocolates.

“Why do you have so many chocolates?”

“They’re for you.”

“…Why?”

“So you wouldn’t cry again.”

My chest did something weird.

Even back then.

I stared at him in disbelief.

“You bought all of these?”

He shrugged awkwardly.

“My driver helped.”

“That’s so many.”

“You cry loudly.”

I gasped dramatically.

“That’s rude.”

“But true.”

I looked back at the chocolates again before smiling so hard my cheeks hurt.

Then without thinking

I suddenly hugged him.

Very aggressively.

Reig froze instantly.

Completely still.

Meanwhile I happily squeezed him while laughing.

“You’re my favorite person now.”

His ears turned red again.

Achievement unlocked.

***

Back in the present, I buried my face against my pillow while laughing quietly to myself.

God.

We were so stupid.

But somehow

Remembering those moments made my chest ache softly instead of painfully now.

Because looking back…

Reig had always been there.

Quietly.

Consistently.

Even before I understood what comfort felt like.

I stared at the old photo again.

Then slowly smiled.

Maybe that was the problem.

Maybe Reig Miller had become part of my life so naturally that I never noticed how deeply rooted he already was inside it.

The thought stayed with me long after I turned the lights off.

And that night

For the first time in days

I fell asleep smiling.

But sometime past midnight

My phone suddenly vibrated beside me.

Still half asleep, I reached for it blindly.

Then my entire body froze.

Unknown Number.

And underneath it

A single message.

Rabbit.

I miss you.