Gabe, Hibiscus Cafe, 8:59 pm 3 days before the bombing

Last night wasn’t my favorite. I saw many things, and all of those things weren’t ideal for a fun night out. I wanted to hang out with Kelly, and I got my wish, but it wasn’t what I wanted. Her father died in front of her own eyes.  She was the saddest I had ever seen her. 

I wanted to cheer her up at work today, but my plan wasn’t thoroughly planned. “ Kelly, I’m-” before I could finish she grabbed my uniform and pulled me close. “ Gabe, it’s not your fault.” He nudged her face into my apron, sobbing with grief. Shaking, I grabbed her head.

“ It’s all going to be okay. I promise.” It looks like she took it well. She looked up at me, smiled, and got back to work. 

The day was long and dark. It was just the beginning of a new night filled with Netflix when my phone buzzed. I want to see you. We need to talk. I called her.

“Gabe, remember when we were texting one night, and when I asked if you were ok at work that day you said you were fine? “

“Yes, why?”

“Was that entirely true?”

“Well….”

“SO YOU WERE LYING TO ME!”

“ What do you mean?”

“I asked if you were ok, and you said yes, but you didn’t look alright! I knew it all along.”

She hung up. I tried to explain to her through text, but she didn’t read it. I was getting worried. Was she ignoring me? I can’t tolerate that. The truth is, I wasn’t alright that day. I was lonely and depressed. My mother and I got into a fight, and she kicked me out of her house. She was expecting me to get a job, and “grow the family”, but I was “not capable” of that. I now live in the apartment building that Kelly lives in. two floors down. I didn’t tell her a thing about it, yet. I was just, not ready. But now I am. I picked up my phone and started to type. I wrote again, but this time she read it. She called me. She was crying. “I’m so sorry-” I hung up and ran to her apartment. I knocked on the door, and when she opened it, I hugged her tight. “It’s okay. It’s all my fault. I should have told you.”

They looked at me with eyes filled with sorrow.

“ No, it’s my fault… I should have been a better friend. If I found out sooner, I would have helped you settle into your apartment. Also, I yelled at you, and that’s bad enough as it is.”

“It’s alright. Don’t worry…”  Her head was dragged into my chest. I hushed her, just like my mother would. Then, she unlatched herself from me and walked away with a small smile on her face.

“Wait-” She looked back

“Hm?” I wasn’t ready.

“Never Mind. “ She smiled and then walked away. 

I regret everything.