Page 32 of Come Home to Me

Is he already part of my past? Just someone to keep me company here in the present?

Or is he my future?

“Sarah? Are you still there?”

I slide the pills back into the bottle. Replace the cap. Bury the thing in my purse and then drop back onto my pillows. “Yeah. I’m here. Who’s Frank? Oh, Tessa…he’s the most amazing guy…”

I go on and on about our time together, how he makes me feel, what he’s done for me since I’ve been here. Tessa adds the appropriate squeals of excitement to the conversation as I gush, then, as the clock ticks past eleven, tells me she needs to get ready for bed so she’s not a zombie at work in the morning.

“I’m so glad you called,” she says, and judging from the smile in her voice, she means it.

“Yeah,” I reply. “I am, too.”

We say our goodbyes and when I hang up, I find a text from Frank that simply reads ‘thinking of you.’ Those three words hit me hard and I type out a quick response.

Me: Wish you were here.

While I’m brushing my teeth, his reply comes in.

Frank: Me too.

The text bubbles bounce.

Frank: Wait.

Frank: Scratch that.

Frank: Your place is terrifying. Wish you were here, instead.

I laugh. The man has a point. While I’m thinking of an appropriately witty response, another text comes.

Frank: Come home with me tomorrow. I can’t stand the thought of spending another night without you.

My heart jumps into my throat, my emotions run wild, strong and potent without the medication in my system. I dance in place, holding my phone over my head while I swing my hair in circles.

Who is Frank?

He’s the guy worth taking a risk for.

The guy worth changing for.

The guy who’s going to teach me to fly.

I respond with a simple ‘yes, please,’ then fall into bed and wait for sleep, too excited to do much more than stare at the ceiling and daydream about tomorrow.

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