A Letter Away From You

Chapter 14

God knows how I've been loading the burden on the people around me and myself. If given, my feet would already go ablaze on the beaches of Maldives, soothing under the shade of the fiery day. All just to dig out the part of me I yearn to see. The part of me that went astray when Dad died.

I fisted my knuckles into my chest.

Do I have a heart?

Each beat composed a rhythm as I plowed my clenched hands into the left side of my body. It didn't hurt, nor tickle me. Perhaps it was a way of telling me that this pain isn't even enough to bargain for what I owe my mother and Dad.

In a mere 2 minutes, it seemed like I underwent a stage of renewal and realization. The clock above my furnished desk chimed me with an unpleasant melody.

Why did I even buy a massive alarm clock?

From the solace of my bed, I could make out the long and short hand pointing to 12.

It took me the fifth out of a ten-second count, to notice the bright laptop screen perching on my lap, flooding with countless notifications. In the back of my mind, I could remember how Mom would always nail me with the lesson never ever to be late for a flight. Catching up to a plane is such a nuisance, every nerve you have from head to toe just bursts into strands from the pressure. That feeling drove my center of attention to the messages I am receiving minute to minute.

"Yes, without a doubt it'll also work for you."

"Hmm."

"Hey, are you still there?"

"Is it only because of my device, or are you ignoring me?"

Oh, I forgot about you. Well, I grinned in glee as this guy stayed to wait for me. Even without the guarantee that I'll come back. Indeed, this world still has genuine people left. With the 6 billion population, there certainly are. Dad, you have departed from a unique world. But, I'm glad there are some individuals like you.

"I'm very sorry!" I framed my thoughts into words really quick, preventing the possibility of him leaving this conversation.

"I had to do something urgently." Lies and lies. The easiest way out of a challenging situation is no other than a deceiving tongue. In no world would I let someone find out the frailness in me.

My ears glimpsed a cracking sound as my back ached from the lousy posture I've been leaning on. I anchored the pillow behind me, supporting my weak figure. As for how cement would serve as a building's foundation, and the sun provides nourishment for plants.

"You're back? You hade me for a second there."

"Out of the couple times I've tried talking with people here, you're the only one who was being authentic so far."

I'm touched. I also feel the same way, Uriah. You're perfect for a stranger; even my own relatives don't talk honestly with me. Admiring the beauty of the website I was not too fond of a little while ago, I lifted my face to the sky beyond the reach of my window.

Heat brimmed my arms while I gnawed my teeth, stringing the keyboards on what to reply next. Not even close to finishing my sentence, a response followed from Uriah.

"I'm also sorry, but I also have my own thing to tend to."

My streak of a thrill was cut down entirely. Although I'm not one to blame him, not being busy denotes how your life is going. A sure fragment in me really wanted to talk longer to you, but we can't really force how life flows.

"It's been fun, but it's fine." I let out a disappointed wave back at him, but I'm pretty sure we'll meet again sometime. If destiny allows it.

"If you want, we can talk more on email."

I dropped my white device on the foam and vaulted towards the center of the room. Only a basketball ring was lacking, because from my unkept joy, a 5 feet jump wouldn't even pose a threat.

"I would really love that." The inner butterflies in my stomach manifested for the first time, as if it was waiting for this very instance.

"beckett62@sgram.com"

That last message left me in shambles for a couple of seconds, before I exchanged mine afterward.

It enchanted my body into a drowsy state. I looked forward to what I might dream of tonight. A kiss might do the trick. I thought as I latched my pink lips into the eleven inches laptop screen, thanking the website for giving me the mate they promised to provide.

This day was my first to try this new medium of talking with people, and certainly would be my last.

Heading back to lay in my inked blue sheets, I could still notice the aura of Mom awake. Is she waiting for someone?

There were times I'd bend my head towards my door, clinging to some hope I'd know what my mother is up to. After all, worrying is part of my job as her kid. I still love her.

Beginning to contemplate the choices I've made and the actions I blasted on her, my regretting soul dashed to the hinge of my room to open the gate imprisoning me from inside. A thump startled me as I discover my weary mother lying on the ground. Was she sitting here the whole time?

Her eyes yelled a lifeless emotion. But to my delight, the sound seemed to knock her up and awaken her almost perished spirit. I'm glad, I know you've been through a lot too, Mom.

I quickly enveloped my arms into her soft waist. So soft it jogged me as to where I got my fragile and whiner attitude. Her tears fell down on my shoulder, she was holding it for so long. I'm sorry mom. Suddenly, my own eyes milked its own fluid as we where just sitting there on the floor, weeping.

"I've been so selfish." I reached my voice to my mother.

"No dear, I was the one who took care of my own emotions first." She wiped the bulges off my face. "I felt I lost everything, and I forgot that I had you."

Lifting her up, I understood that my mom was also fighting her own battles. "Just forget about it, what is important now is that we're here for each other."

Feet on top of the mattress, we just laid down as nothing happened. It took a few minutes for the whole thing to sink in.

Checking on my laptop to shut it off, another notification popped right in. This time, from my own email.

"Uriah has sent you an email."

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