#brochu

“Yeah, alright,” she says into her phone, but she’s already on hold. The music immediately gives her a headache. She has plenty of time to sit and think about why she’s so eager to throw free money away.

“She says not to worry.”

The voice is so quiet above the smooth jazz pouring out of her phone that she barely registers it. She turns her head to see Kira’s head peeking out from the hallway.

“Who says, Monkey?”

“My friend,” Kira says. “She says that you shouldn’t worry about the money.”

Sarah’s eyes widen. She lowers the phone into her lap.

“What friend?”

Kira leads Sarah to her laptop. A farming game is open on the screen, dripping with bright colors.

“You met someone in the game?” Sarah asks.

“Mhm,” Kira hums, pointing to the chat window in the corner.

There, Sarah sees it.

tell her not to worry

its ok

“Babe,” Sarah croaks. “I’m gonna talk to her for a minute, okay?”

“Okay,” Kira chirps. “But I need to harvest my tomatoes soon.”

Sarah mumbles something like an acknowledgement as Kira leaves the room. Her fingers hover over the keyboard, hesitating. She draws a deep breath and then types.

who is this?

Seconds tick by. Cheery music bubbles out from the laptop speakers. Sarah doesn’t blink.

sarah?

That’s when Sarah knows. Maybe she’d already known. Her breath catches. Her vision clouds with tears.

She has to say something. A million thoughts rush into her head. Only one reaches her fingers.

i’m sorry

She doesn’t say her name. She can’t. If she says it, it might not be real.

don’t be sorry

The words are a blur; Sarah can barely read them. She leans close to the screen until she can feel its warmth. She types.

come back

please

Sarah curls in on herself, wrapping her arms tight around her waist. She rocks back and forth in her seat and waits.

i can’t

not yet

Her fingers fly to the keyboard before she has the words. But she’s too late.

She’s gone. Just like that. Sarah stares blankly at the screen, watching pixelated grass wave in the breeze.