The new messenger app buzzes straight to your phone, like you’re getting a text message instead of a private message on Facebook.
One word. She almost deleted it like it was spam. Then her eyes widened when she saw that it came from Ryan. Ryan Lusk. Now that’s a name she hadn’t heard in ages.
But you know how it is with social networks, you can be friends with someone from your kindergarten class, a passing acquaintance, an ex-boyfriend, or in this case, someone that reminded you of an ex…
She locked the doors and turned out the lights and settled down on her favorite chair with her phone, a book, and a cup of chamomile tea.
Her phone lit up with the unread message. Hello.
Heyyy! she typed back, trying to sound chipper.
It’s been a while. How are you? came his quick reply.
Her fingers weren’t fast enough. If she wrote “Good” was that too cold? Did she have to include some details about her new life, her suburban life? The house, the kid, the dog, oh yeah, the husband. Would it sound like gloating? Do her updates not show up on his news feed? Facebook is weird.
Whatever. And her fingers tapped on her iPhone 5.
Things are good. Livin’ the dream. She wrote.
There were lags between the messages. The app still has its kinks. Plus, there was the time difference. Ryan was probably brewing his first cup of coffee, while she was getting ready for bed.
She continued, “I haven’t been back home in 7 years. But thanks to Facebook, I’ve kept in touch with Neil, Carissa, Tom… (her voice would have trailed right there had she actually been speaking those names, instead of writing.)
Ryan must’ve read it that way too, because it looked like he hesitated. Like he started typing, then deleting, thinking of what to say.
I see Neil from time to time, but haven’t heard from Carissa since she was last in town three years ago. She still looks HOT!!!!
Smiley face emoticon, she typed, smiling to herself as she remembered how much Ryan pined for Carissa.
And? she typed, a little too anxious. (Did he not mention Tom on purpose? Like he was treading carefully because of what had happened? Or what didn’t happen?)
I saw Tom in Bangkok earlier this year. He deleted his Facebook account. He is, well, you know, Tom, Ryan replied.
Back in reality, she could hear the baby shifting around in his bed. He was four. (Is that still a baby?)
Ryan: Hey, I have to go now, but it was nice to chat with you.
And she meant it too. Of the lot, Ryan was the nice one. The one with no drama. He was the calming force in the group.
She peeked into the baby’s room but he was still asleep. The night light flickered and she thought she saw something move, but it was just a shadow. Like the shadows of the past filling her head right now.
She remembered Tom and the last time she’d seen him. She remembered the airport, the pain, the uncertainty. "I’ll be back for you,” he said. But he didn’t come back.
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