Page 56 of Tilly in Technicolor
Sorry I left without waking you… you know how much I hate goodbyes. Love youuuuuuuuuuu
I smile down at my phone. Love you back, I type.
A small noise from Tilly tugs my attention to the other bed. She’s curled up, a little lump in the center of the mattress, her inky-black hair a striking contrast to the white duvet tucked around her, like she’s sleeping on a puffy cloud.
A startling surge of feelings overwhelms me—a sharp prickle at the nape of my neck, a tightness in my chest, a rush of adrenaline down my arms—as I watch her breathe.
I tear my eyes away, scrolling madly through my phone until I find Marcus’s name. I start typing in a moderately frantic way.
I think I might be dying
every time I look at Tilly it feels like my heart is going to explode
I’m worried I might be having a heart attack?
what does liking someone feel like?
isn’t your uncle a cardiologist? Can you get me an emergency appointment with him?
It takes Marcus four minutes to respond, which is rather alarming, seeing as I’m dying and all.
hey, Oliver. Good to hear from you! I’m great, thanks for asking. How are you?
I blow out an exasperated breath through my nose.
Glad you’re well. I’m fine except for the whole possible heart attack thing
lol who the hell is Tilly?
I bite back a groan. I don’t want to get into the details right now, all I want to know is how I survive whatever terrifying thing is happening to my system.
nvm
I fall back against the pillows, dropping my phone next to me. My fingers tap wildly at my side as I try not to focus on the sound of Tilly’s inhales and exhales, a rhythm that’s become as familiar as my own.
Another text buzzes through.
the start of liking someone can be so overwhelming it feels a bit like you’re dying. But that’s only because you’re on the precipice of really living
I read this over about seven times then roll my eyes.
what does that even mean? That doesn’t make sense. This exchange has been useless
lmao. Miss you, too, mate
Tilly greets the day with a startling and scratchy yawn as she suddenly sits all the way up. Her sleepy eyes are heavy-lidded as she looks around the room, hair sticking out in wonky angles. My heart squeezes.
What the fuck.
“Did Cubby leave already?” Tilly asks, frowning as she looks at me. “I didn’t get a chance to say goodbye.”
I swallow past the knot in my throat. “That’s kind of her way. She likes to pop in and out of people’s lives with as much dramatic effect as possible.”
“A woman of mystery,” Tilly says, fixing me with a smile. I catch myself smiling back.
I continue to look at her, eyes fixed on her mouth, and I’msurprised to find color creeping up her neck and cheeks like ivy. Pantone Burnt Sienna.
Tilly clears her throat then looks away, yawning again.
