Page 7 of All Along

I’ll make sure to remember it all and include it in my next letter to Caleb. I frown. I haven’t heard from him in a while. He doesn’t write as often as I do but usually, I receive at least one letter a month.

But I haven’t gotten a letter this month. And then there’s the matter of my latest package being returned to sender. And his phone number no longer being in service.

This has happened before when he’s on a mission. But usually, he lets me know in advance. No matter how much I try to convince myself all is well, I’m worried.

Speaking of Caleb, the man leaning against the corner of the chalet could be his twin. Same height. Same bulging muscles. Same blond hair. Same blue eyes.

Hold on a minute. It is Caleb.

“Caleb! You’re home!” I shout as I run to him and throw myself at him.

He catches me but immediately sets me back on my feet before retreating. “I knew I shouldn’t have come to this party.” He turns around and marches away without another word.

What? Why is he being a meanie? I chase after him.

“Caleb. It’s me, Maya. Your pen pal,” I explain as I try to keep up. He’s limping but he’s still moving way faster than me. “Slow down.”

“Fuck,” he mutters before stopping.

“Why are you limping? Are you injured? Is that why you’re home? When did you get home? Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want to see you.”

My eyes widen. “What? Why not?”

“It’s not personal.”

“Feels pretty personal when you tell me you don’t want to see me after twelve years of being pen pals.”

He scratches his neck. “I meant I don’t want to see anyone.”

“Not anyone? What about your family? They’ve missed you.”

He scowls. “My family is better off without me.”

“What are you talking about? They’re your family. They aren’t better off without you. They love you.”

Unlike my family who was happy to watch the backside of me walk away. We don’t speak. I send birthday cards and Christmas cards but I never receive any cards in return. I can’t remember the last time my mother phoned for my birthday.

And I’m not invited to Christmas dinner. Traitors aren’t welcome.

“You’re better off without me, too.”

Pain crashes through my chest at his words. Better off without Caleb? Never. Caleb is everything.

“How about I choose whether I’m better off without you myself? It’s this new thing I’m trying out. Being an adult woman and making my own decisions. It agrees with me thus far.”

He ducks his chin but not before I notice his lips turn up in a barely there smile.

“I’m trying to protect you.”

“Protect me from what? Spending time in real life with the person I’ve been writing letters to for over a decade?” I narrow my eyes on him. “Or did you ask someone else to write those letters? Have you been pretending to be someone else? Let me guess. You’re a super secret spy who’s here on a mission because the island has been invaded by aliens.”

“Aliens?” He barks out a laugh. “My shy Maya is funny.”

“Funny and shy aren’t mutually exclusive.”

He shakes his head. “Apparently not.”

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