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The Morning After
“You could’ve sent a text,” Josh muttered.
The clock read 7:00 AM. Ben’s shift was ending, and he still hadn’t called. Josh tried to rationalize it. A call that ran long. Something chaotic. Bad timing. But every explanation sharpened the same question: Why didn’t he let you know?
Each minute stretched the silence tighter. Ben wasn’t some guy he was seeing casually anymore. He mattered. And it kept feeling like that didn’t go both ways.
He checked the screen. Ben’s name, all of them missed. Josh hesitated, then redialed again.
One ring. Two. Three. Then the pickup.
“Yeah?” Ben’s voice came through, rough and groggy.
“Seriously, Ben? You’re alive, at least?”
“Josh, it’s—what time is it?”
“Seven. Not that it matters, right? I mean, I’ve only been calling you all night.”
“Josh, I just got home. I’ve had… a long night.”
“Yeah, I figured. I’m not mad that something happened. I’m mad that I didn’t even get a damn text. I sat here for hours thinking maybe something really went wrong. You can’t do that.” He took a breath. “Not when you know I know what that feels like.”
Ben didn’t answer right away. When he did, his tone had dropped. “Josh, I didn’t mean to worry you.”
“But you did. And it’s not new. The second things feel close, you vanish. You just shut the door. I don’t even know if you notice you’re doing it. But I do. And it sucks.”
“Josh, I—”
“No. I’m not trying to make this some big thing. I just—I care about you. More than I meant to, maybe. So when you vanish, it hits different.”
“Josh, it’s not that simple.”
“Then make it a little simple. Just enough so I’m not wondering if you’re in a hospital or just don’t give a shit.”
“I’m sorry,” he said at last. “I should’ve called. You didn’t deserve that.”
“Just… don’t keep me guessing.”
“Yeah. Let me get some sleep, and we’ll talk later. I’ll explain everything.”
“Fine. But don’t make me wait too long, you hear me?”
“I won’t.”
“Okay. Get some rest.”
“You too.” The line went dead.
Josh set the phone down. He only hoped Ben meant it.
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Holding Together