Ethan

The sound of the TV fills the room, but you don't pay attention to it.

It's almost two o'clock in the morning and you can't sleep.

It's not uncommon... it's never any different when Ethan isn't around.

Your phone vibrates on the table.

Message.

Ethan: "Are you awake?"

You respond almost instantly.

You: “Yeah… I can’t sleep.”

A few seconds pass.

Then the phone vibrates again.

This time it's a call.

You answer without thinking.

-…Hello.

His voice sounds quiet, hoarse... tired. There's a background noise, something metallic, distant voices.

-You shouldn't be awake at this hour...

he mutters

You need to sleep.

There's a short silence. It's not awkward. It's… heavy.

—Is everything okay there?—

you ask.

He gives a short, joyless smile.

—What do you mean, “okay”?

pause

we're still breathing, so yeah... i guess that counts.

You hear something moving on the other side, as if he were getting comfortable.

-Miss you.

He says it simply.

Directly.

Without embellishment.

Another pause.

-Listen to me…

his tone changes, becomes more serious

• if something happens

He stops short and exhales in disappointment.

• Damn... forget about it.

Silence.

—Just… stay where it's safe, okay? Don't do anything stupid while I'm gone.

It sounds like an order… but not quite.

This is a concern.

-I'll come back,

he adds later, even more quietly

• I always come back.

The background noise increases for a second. Someone is calling him.

• Damn... I have to go.

Another pause. This time shorter.

-Love you.

And the call ends.

Silence reigns in the house again... but now it feels different.