I can almost hear the sadness through her message as I sit on the edge of my bed.
OD: You doing okay?
Slytherin4ever: So-so, I guess. Why do you ask?
Because I’m in love with you and want to make you feel better?
OD: Just wondering. I feel like we’re always talking about me. I just wanted to make sure you’re doing okay, too, especially when you’ve had a “day.”
Slytherin4ever: Everyone has “days.”
OD: True. Do you wanna tell me about yours, and what made it so-so?
Slytherin4ever: It’s complicated.
I laugh.
OD: I’m an expert at complicated, remember?
Slytherin4ever: I thought we decided no details between you and me.
OD: Okay…then keep it vague and let me fill in the blanks.
Her response isn’t immediate this time around, so I push myself off the mattress and brush my teeth before climbing right back in to find a message waiting for me.
Slytherin4ever: Have you ever wanted something? Like…badly? And you work your hardest to line everything up to make it come true, but it just…doesn’t?
Football.
Duh.
But we aren’t talking about football. We’re talking about children. The ones she used to tell me about. The ones she couldn’t wait to have and raise. And because of me and my mistakes, she’s been left empty-handed.
Carefully, I reply.
OD: I’ve been there a few times. Once with football. And one other time with the girl I told you about. What’s yours? A job opportunity? A guy? A girl––if you swing that way?
Slytherin4ever: lol, no, nothing like that. I mean, yes. I’ve definitely missed out on a guy when I was younger, but that’s not really what I’m talking about this time. I came to terms with that loss the best that I could when it happened, though we’ve already discussed how messy breakups can be, ya know?
She has no idea.
But how do I convince her to open up to me?
OD: Yeah. So, not the guy you missed out on when you were younger. Maybe it’s a career opportunity, then?
Slytherin4ever: Nope. That one actually MIGHT be lining up for me if I play my cards right.
OD: Hmm…if it isn’t a career opportunity or a guy…what is it?
Slytherin4ever: Just a reminder of what I could’ve had but don’t.
OD: Come on, Say….
My eyes bug out of my head before I press send. Erasing her name, I rephrase myself, then press enter.
OD: Come on. Throw me a bone here. I wanna know.
Talk to me!