Skin and Bones

‘What happened to you? Are you okay?’

I don’t even know what happened. I just felt…claustrophobic – almost attacked. Like they were a family of hungry lions moving in on their prey – me.
It must’ve looked weird – disturbing even – when I ran away. They were just trying to help me, and then I run away – leaving behind my backpack and my shoes.
I’m so weird.

I have to text Mikey back – tell him I’m okay. I can’t tell him about my mom, though. I just can’t. They’ll take me away. It’s gonna be reported and I’m gonna be taken away. I can’t leave my mom.

I pick up my phone and quickly decide to stick with my initial excuse.

‘I got beat up by a bunch of bullies. I guess I’m still pretty shook up over it. Don’t worry, I’ll be fine. Our project is in my bag. See ya tomorrow.’

I press send. I lie down on my back and close my eyes.
I clear my head completely.

Suddenly my phone vibrates in my hands, and I curse under my breath. I seriously gotta remember to put take if off vibrate.
I look at the screen. Gerard.

‘You scared me. I just read the text you send to Mikey. Want me to come over?’

No.
Well, yes.
But he can’t.

‘No, it’s fine. I just need to think for a bit. You can comfort me as much as you want tomorrow.’

I try to insert a smiley, but I still haven’t figured that feature out yet – and I’ve had my phone for over a year now.
I’m a genius.

I go in under menu and try to find the settings. I’ve done this before, but not very often. And it’s been a while since I’ve last changed anything, so it takes me a while to find the setting that turn off the phone’s vibration.

I start going through the different setting-options, and suddenly I can’t stop myself. I change the theme, the background, my ringtone and the watch.

When I’m done, it’s like I have an entirely new phone. I’m proud at my work.
A little envelope appears at the top of my screen and I smile.

‘I’ll look forward to it. If you need me, just call. Anytime.’

I smile a little wider and blush – my cheeks prickling.
I want to answer him, but I don’t know what to write other than thank you, and that just seems too cold.
So I don’t answer. It seems cold too, but it’s better than sending a message that could be misunderstood as a rejection. And I most certainly don’t want that.

I look through my phone again. I find something called profiles, and when I go from standard to meeting, all of my settings changes.
I entertain myself with this for the rest of the day.