Page 1 of Tell Me No

ONE

RIIINNNGGG!

RIIINNNGGG!

RIIINNNGGG!

I’m jostled from my sleep by the unpleasant sound of my iPhone buzzing and screaming out from somewhere on my bed next to me. Reaching out beside me, I swipe my arm over the empty side of my bed, fingering the cold sheets. Not only is it annoying to get woken up at whatever time it may be, but it’s a painful reminder that every night I get to crawl into this bed alone.

My fingertips finally swipe the side of the device so I curl them and beckon it to me. Holding it up, I’m blinded by the terribly bright picture staring back at me.

It’s Anthony, my best friend, smiling on the white sand of some beach he traveled to with his fiancée. His dark hair is tousled in the wind, and his skin is particularly tan. The floral button-up he’s wearing is unbuttoned at the top, showing off his taut muscles as Isabella wraps her arms around his waist smiling. It’s a cute picture and makes me feel a little less pissy, but then the time in the corner of the screen jumps out at me.

Anthony and I talk all the time, but the only other time I’ve received a phone call from him this late is when his parents died. Dread starts to seep into my pores and weigh my bones down in my skin, forcing them to stay locked where they are.

Nothing good ever comes from phone calls at midnight.

Sitting up in my bed, I will myself to slide the answer bar, then bring the phone to my ear. “Anthony? What’s the matter? Are you okay?” The words fly out of my mouth faster than I can even wipe the sleep from my eyes.

I’m met with a long beat of silence before I hear him take in a deep breath. “She’s gone, Mia. Isabella is gone.”

I open my mouth to question what he means, but then he’s talking again before I can.

“I don’t know why or what I could have done. We had dinner last night, and everything was fine. We talked about a date and venue–you know, all the shit she always nagged me about–but when I got home from work today, she was gone. The closet is empty, the bathroom. She even took that cat I hated.”

Relief washes over me. Sure, this isn’t the best news, but it’s better than something terrible happening to her.

“Tony, it’s midnight. Why are you just now calling? When did you get off work?” I question, running my hand over my face.

Tony is a bit of a work-a-holic. He always has been for as long as I’ve known him. In elementary school, he was always adamant about having the best coloring sheet to present to the teacher the next day so he would stay up late, making sure every stroke of his crayon was inside the lines. Then in junior high, he always stayed after hours or took the science fair project home with him. When high school came, it was no different, only it was sports that took over his life.

He graduated early and landed an awesome scholarship, so he didn’t slow down. It’s a value his dad instilled in him at a young age. Work for what you want and don’t slack, and I feel after he passed away, he kept that close to him. It’s why he’s one of the best lawyers in the state. He examines every piece of evidence, makes extensive notes, and has the highest success rate anyone has seen in the last two years.

Only twenty-six years old and has already made a name for himself, but Isabella never liked the late nights his job entailed.

“You already know the answer to that question, Mia. I’m working on a case that’s been grueling. I didn’t make it home till after nine.” I can hear the realization dawn on him as the words leave his mouth and it makes me frown.

He knew just like everyone else that Isabella didn’t like spending so much time without him. She needed him to be a constant, but he prioritized work instead. I hate to even say it because Anthony is my best friend, but I knew their relationship wouldn’t work.

She wanted the American dream. White picket fence, a few kids, and maybe even a dog. And although Tony never protested, I know him well enough to say for certain he just wanted to foot the bill. He didn’t care about anything other than her. He’s never wanted kids or to move away from this city.

“Tony,” I start, ready to tell him what he already knows, but he cuts me off.

“I know. You don’t have to say it. I guess I’m just upset knowing I wasted a year trying to form into the person she wanted me to be. I thought I could do it too,” he laughs sarcastically. “But clearly, I couldn’t.”

I let out a sigh and pull my knees to my chest. “Are you okay, though?”

“I mean, yes and no. I feel Isabella was probably the best thing to happen to me, but at the same time, I’m starting to think I didn’t know her at all. I never thought she would do something so drastic without even talking to me first.”

I shrug like he can see me. “Sometimes people aren’t who you think. I know you had cold feet to begin with, so maybe this isn’t an entirely terrible thing, you know? Your wants and needs didn’t line up with hers, and that’s okay. It’s better it happened now than five years down the road when you are sharing a home and even kids.”

“Yeah…” he trails off. “I guess you’re right. I never wanted to hurt her, though.”

“Listen, Isabella is strong, gorgeous, and knows what she wants. I promise you she’s going to be okay. It’s good she knows exactly what she wants and needs and realized you couldn’t give it to her. She deserves to be happy in whatever form that may be or with whoever can give it to her. Maybe her leaving without a word was for the best. No goodbye means no trying to figure out something you both know won’t work.”

He lets out a sad laugh. “God, you sound like my mom.”

I let the line go silent.

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