THE MESSAGE SHE NEVER SENT. - by Reuben Esther Chidera

At exactly 2:17 a.m., Elora was still awake. The room was silent, except for the soft ticking of the clock on the wall. The only light came from the phone in her hand. She stared at one name on her screen. Kian. Three years. Three whole years since she had heard his voice. Three years since the night he walked out of her life without looking back. She opened their old conversation and scrolled through the messages. The last one she had sent was still there. Please, Kian. Just let me explain. He never replied. Elora took a deep breath and began typing. I still miss you. She stared at the message. Her eyes slowly filled with tears. It was only four words, but behind those four words were three years of memories, sleepless nights, unanswered questions, and a love she had never completely let go of. Her thumb hovered over send. For a moment, she wanted to press it. Then she remembered his face that night. The anger in his eyes. The photograph in his hand. The way he had looked at her as if she were a complete stranger. And finally, the words that had broken her heart I never want to see you again. Elora quickly deleted the message. No, she whispered to herself. I can't go back there. She placed the phone beside her and lay down. But sleep wouldn't come. She closed her eyes, hoping the memories would disappear. They didn't. She remembered the rain that night. She remembered running after him. She remembered begging him to listen. And most of all, she remembered watching him walk away. She had waited for him to turn around. He never did. A single tear slipped down her cheek. Elora wiped it away and whispered, It's been three years. Why does it still hurt? Then suddenly RING! Her phone lit up. Elora froze. She slowly reached for it. Her heart began pounding. She looked at the screen. And everything inside her stopped. Kian was calling. After three years of silence. She stared at his name, afraid to answer. The phone kept ringing. Once. Twice. Three times. She almost let it stop. But something inside her told her to pick up. With trembling fingers, she answered. Hello? Silence. Elora's heart raced. Hello? Then she heard it. A slow breath on the other end. Familiar. Painfully familiar. “Kian?” For several seconds, there was nothing. Then his voice finally came through. “Elora…” Her eyes filled with tears. She couldn't speak. And then he said something that made her blood run cold. I know what really happened that night. TO BE CONTINUED…

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