Elias: Want to talk about it?

Indigo: How are you?

Indigo: Better?

Elias: Message received

Elias: I’ll call you in a bit

Indigo: Okay

* * *

Monday, 4:01 AM

Elias: Had a dream about her

Indigo: Are you okay?

Elias: Why are you awake?

Elias: It’s 4 AM

Indigo: Can’t sleep

Elias: Go to sleep. We’ll talk tomorrow

Indigo: Want me to call you?

Elias: Yeah

* * *

Tuesday, 3:21 PM

Indigo: Avocado peed all over the couch

Elias: Really??

Elias: That’s not like him

Indigo: And guess what?

Elias: What?

Indigo: I was on the couch

Indigo: Sleeping.

Elias: =)))

Indigo: Do you think that’s funny?

Indigo: Remember there are three dogs in the house

Indigo: Their shit is going on your side of the bed

* * *

Wednesday, 1:46 AM

Indigo: It sucks

Elias: What?

Indigo: That I miss you

Elias: I miss you too

Elias: a LOT

Indigo: Yea

Elias: Don’t be like that

Elias: I do

Indigo: Right.

Elias: I promise I’m not staying much longer

Elias: Indigo?

* * *

Thursday, 3:09 PM

Elias: I’m sorry.

Elias: I really miss you and it fucks with my head

Elias: I’ll be home before Monday, okay?

Elias: And then I’m never leaving you again

Indigo: I’m sorry too.

Elias: For what?

Indigo: Because I got caught up in my feelings

Elias: It’s okay, you have every right to be mad at me

Indigo: I’m not mad you

* * *

Friday, 9:21 AM

Indigo: Your sister said in her letter that you love me

Elias: She did?

Indigo: Yeah.

Indigo: Said the same thing about me

Elias: And you do?

CHAPTER FORTY FOUR

INDIGO

Bread with water and sugar has been the only thing that’s kept me alive for the past fourteen days. And pizza. I hate to cook. Enya had promised to prepare something for me, but I talked her out of it and told her to stay with the kids at my house for a few days instead.

She’s not very happy with how I cope. I’m not fully proud of myself either, but it’s better than never getting out of bed again.

I just got home from a run and Darla’s name was on my lips the whole time. Can’t remember the last time I ran or the last time I walked more than the distance from my front porch to my car. Maybe high school?

The thing is, I really enjoyed it. It was something close to therapy for my body, but now my legs are shaking badly.

At first, it felt amazing. Refreshing almost. Then my legs started to hurt a bit and I thought I’d just run a little more. Here’s the thing: I forgot that I also have to run back.