Resist

He chuckled. “Sorry I missed that. Also, glad it wasn’t me.”

“You think it’s funny we thought you were dead or shaking in a dirty bathroom somewhere?” I hopped from the sofa. “What you do matters to me. It matters to all of us. So this time you left because of some happiness journey it sounds like? Your happiness led to my misery. You should have seen Mom. She’s a wreck.”

He stared at me. “Elliot, I wasn’t trying to drag you in to anything. You live in D.C. You have your life. How was I supposed to know they’d ask you to fly down?”

“Because when someone in your family goes missing that’s what you do!” I was flushed. My head spun.

“Calm down. I’m sorry. Really, I should have checked in. Or out or whatever.”

“I don’t know what to say anymore.” I pulled out my phone. “They need to know you’re alive. You can tell them your version of whatever it is that happened.”

I realized in my hands was the decision to call one parent before the other. To choose who was more deserving. I scowled. I dialed my mother.

“Elliott, I woke up and you weren’t here.”

“Mom, I’m fine. I’m with Garrett.”

“Oh, God. Thank you. Thank you. Where is he? I want to talk to him.”

“Hold on.” I glared at my twin and shoved the phone in his hand. “Here you go.”

“Hey, Mom. Yep, I’m fine.”

I listened while he explained that he and his new girlfriend had gone on some kind of spiritual retreat together to detox from the digital world. They had made a commitment not to use phones or the Internet. He felt at ease with his decision.

He handed the phone back to me.

“Elliot, are you coming back?” Mom asked.

“Yes, I’m leaving soon. I have to get to D.C. tonight since my brother isn’t dead.” I shot him a quick glare.

“Stop saying that. Be glad he’s ok.”

“I am. He seems perfectly fine. I need to go, Mom.”

“I’ll see you soon.” I hung up and called our father. I went through a quicker greeting before passing the phone this time.

Garrett didn’t go into as much detail. And he was shorter with his words.

In the end, they both knew their son was ok.

My hand landed on the doorknob. “Next time you decide to digital detox, let someone know, ok?”

He grimaced. “I really am sorry.”

I pulled him into a hug. “Me too.”

“Safe flight home.”

I nodded. “I’ll call you this week and maybe you can tell me more about Morgan. That is, if phones are still ok,” I mocked his trip.

“I think you’d like her.”

I laughed. I didn’t know how I felt about a woman who had kidnapped my brother on a mission for self-discovery, but it was better than the toxic girlfriend.

“I’m sure I will.” I paused. “No matter how angry I am, I’m glad you’re safe. That’s all I thought about.” I held back the tightening in my throat. I hadn’t cried since I found out he was missing. I wasn’t going to cry now that he was found.

“I know.” He rubbed the scruff of his beard. “I’m sorry for being such an ass about you moving. Do you like D.C.?”