Page 55 of Revive Me

It takes another minute for another text to come through.

Liliana: Did you have pets when you were a kid?

I swallow roughly, my chest tightening the same way it always does when this aspect of my childhood is mentioned.

Roman: No. My dad’s job had us moving around too much, it would’ve been hard to put any pets through that.

Liliana: Ah. I can see how that would make owning a pet difficult

Bubbles appear again, then disappear, then reappear. She’s hesitating.

Liliana: You never talk about your dad

Another rough swallow.

Roman: He died when I was ten. It’s just Mom and me.

Liliana: Oh Roman. I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have asked.

Roman: It’s okay. It was a logical progression of the conversation. Plus, it was a long time ago.

Liliana: Even still, I’m sorry

Liliana: If you could have owned a pet, what would you have asked for?

The tightness in my chest loosens at the seamless way she makes things better.

Roman: A snake

Liliana: OH MY GOD

Liliana: I could NEVER

And I’m right back to smiling.

Roman: All caps, huh?

Liliana: YES

Liliana: A snake?? ROMAN

Liliana: YOU HAVE TO FEED THEM LIVE MICE

Roman: So? Your pet kills mice for fun

Another picture comes through, and once again, I burst out laughing.

It’s of her cat, of course. But he’s no longer glaring. Instead, he’s splayed on his back, legs sticking out every which way, with his eyes closed and mouth wide open.

Liliana: Garfield isn’t killing anything, trust me

Roman: Yikes. Fat and lazy, he really is Garfield.

Liliana: Would you believe me if I said he’s so much like Garfield that he actually likes pizza and coffee?

Liliana: I’m telling you, we must have manifested his personality with the name or something

Roman: The pizza I’m not surprised by. But the coffee is weird.

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