chapter 13
361 Words
The trip had flown by. Melissa was sad that it was already over. 2017 had gone out just like that - with a figurative bang.
And just like that, it was 2018. Her deadline for the manuscript was right around the corner.
In February, Melissa started worrying about it. Would her story be ready in time?
Her agent, Mary had already called her three times in the past week.
Melissa hadn't answered any of the phone calls.
She couldn't. She still hadn't finished the second draft and she only had five chapters sent to the editor.
A failure. She felt like a failure.
The phone rang again. Melissa had expected this. She looked at the caller ID and was actually a bit surprised - it was her brother. She had not heard from him since December.
"Hey Perry?" The greeting sounded more like a question than anything else.
"Melissa? Can you come get me?" Her older brother sounded sick. Weak. Almost as if he were drunk.
"Sure. Where are you?"
"Your town. The movie theater. The guys....they left me here." The signal was going in and out. Bouncing and breaking up. That's what he sounded like he was doing.
"What guys, Perry? I need you to tell me who was there with you, please."
It didn't add up. If Perry was at the movies, then why did he sound drunk?
"Jim, Bill, Harry..." He coughed on the other end.
"Alright, Perry. I'll come get you. Do you need anything?"
"No. I just need you to come get me, Melissa."
Melissa promised Perry that she was on her way and hung up the phone.
After saving her story draft, turning off the laptop, and feeding Bella, Melissa headed out the door.
She silently prayed that Perry was okay. Had the guys put something in his soda when he went to the bathroom?
Or had Perry lied and was he really at the bar?
These and a million other questions kept going through Melissa's head.
The problem was that she didn't know if any of the questions running through her mind were appropriate to ask. What if Perry became offended by those questions?
- Writer
