“Bri? Zora?” I say louder, walking around the perimeter of the room. The floor is so chilly. My foot nudges something on the floor. I scoop up my Air Maxes and slip them on. They took my shoes off? Gave me a bed? I listen for something, some sign of where I am, when my wrist shakes again. I tap it with shaky fingers.

Julius: Aye, you up?

My pulse ticks slower as I read Julius’s words over and over, clinging to the only thing rooted and sure in the world right now. At least I have signal in here. Underground, it’s a toss-up.

Julius: You must be sleep. I told T you said she could have three dogs. Hit me when you get up.

Julius: Okay, I know you won’t get this till later, but I was thinking about that time we drove down to Galveston to go to the beach, but it rained all day. We should go back there sometime. When it’s sunny.

I remember. I close my eyes and let the memory of home still my thudding heart, slow the cadence of my breath. I clutch my wristwatch tightly.

Five… four… three… two… one.

Julius had, like, ten dollars to his name. He filled up the hooptie and we hit the road. Ran out of gas when we got there. We tried doing street flows for some change. Threw his snapback on the ground upside down and everything. I did the beat and he bust the flow. In. The. Rain. We got like two dollars from some eclectic tourists before calling it quits. I ended up begging Ms. Leola to drive down and give us some money without Moms knowing. Julius’s mama was livid when she woke up to go to work and her car was just gone. Jue and I was always wildin’, I swear.

Me: I don’t know why you told her that lie. And yeah, I remember, you thought you could build a doper sandcastle than me.

The message sends with a swish, and I savor the moment of warmth it gives me. I check my pockets, my wrists. Everything’s intact, but a spot on the side of my head throbs. Whoever has me down here clearly didn’t want to hurt me. I rock back and forth, the memories of the cell floor scratch at my sanity. I’m not in there. I’m not in there anymore. My watch buzzes and I can breathe.

Julius: Morning, sunshine.And hell yeah. Used the last of my gas money to get down there and back and I ain’t even get to show yo ass up like I wanted.

Me: You wasn’t gon’ win, no way. So womp womp.

Julius: LOL. You good tho?