6 – Chris
It was the sixteenth day that Riley hadn’t
talked to me, and I thought I’d been patient
enough.
I hadn’t lost my temper, I hadn’t argued. I
even bought her the jewelry she liked. Why
was she still ignoring me?
I checked my phone constantly. I would have
been happy if she just sent me one message.
But there was nothing.
So, I started acting the way I used to and
spent more time with Ashley
L
spent more time with Ashley.
I sent her pictures of us together and took
Ashley to all the places on her bucket list.
But I did all those things, and our messages
were still nothing more than me talking to
myself.
Honestly, I couldn’t take it.
Guys are messed up. When she used to text
and call me all the time, I couldn’t wait to
throw my phone into the ocean.
But now that my phone was silent, I felt like a
part of me was missing.
Then, at a friend’s housewarming party,
Ashley got drunk.
L
She wasn’t her usual cute self. She grabbed
my shirt and said I couldn’t go back to Riley.
“When are you going to wake up? Riley’s dead! She’s been dead for almost a month! You want it straight? She’s ashes. Do you love her that much that you’re acting crazy?”
She was loud, but everyone looked away and
avoided eye contact.
“Ashley, you’re drunk.”
I smiled and pushed her away.
She got even more desperate. “I’m drunk, but
I’m more aware than you! Why do you think I
came back to the USA?”
“If it wasn’t to get you back, I wouldn’t have
L
come back to keep you by my side. You’re
mine, even if I don’t want you, no one else
can have you. How could you love someone
else!”
The mood was tense. I laughed. “When did I
become yours?”
“You are mine.” She grabbed me. “You said
you’d protect me!”
Someone tried to ease the situation.
“That was a long time ago. You and Chris
have always just been friends.”
“Friends? What brother does everything for
his sister? What brother is with his sister
when his wife is dead?
L
When she was alive, you didn’t love her that
much, but now you love her?
I am in pain when I hear you talk about Riley!
There is no more Riley!”
“Enough!”
Ashley had tears in her eyes.
My head was hurting.
Riley wasn’t going to die.
“What do you know, she’s just mad at me,
she just doesn’t want to talk to me right now,
when she’s not angry, she’ll be back.
She said she’d marry me, we haven’t gotten
married yet!”
r
Everyone looked at me weird.
“Are you okay, Chris?”
“I’m fine!”
My friend tried to help me, but I pushed them
away.
“You all think Riley’s dead, I’m going to show
you!”
I went home and kept calling and texting
Riley.
But she was really angry.
No matter how I asked her, there was only
silence.
<
“No! That’s not right! Riley wouldn’t ignore
me, we’re going to get married.”
I rushed home.
My house was cold.
There was no one, and no food.
I found a photo of Riley.
I felt lightheaded.
I thought I saw Riley in bed.
Her face was pale.
She was dead.
<
They said she died in the church and threw
up blood, the photo was red.
“Just kidding? Don’t joke, come back, let’s
get married.”
I felt like there was a thread in my
I heard something.
I let go. “I knew it, this is a joke.”
