They Think She Might be Dead

They think she might be dead.
I've opened our text thread at least ten times in the last thirty minutes.
dead
dead
dead
It's been rattling around in my head.
DEAD!
Maybe he'll tell me more when he knows more. Our phone call was just a lot of speculation and then he texted:
They think she might be dead.
***** Every buzz of my phone is someone else, something else. Does he think I don't care? I was appropriately comforting.
Oh no!
I'm so sorry…
How is your friend doing?
He told me about this tragedy. I didn't ask for the latest soul-crushing news in his life. I actually called to… end things. He's just so frustrating. Not to mention married.
With kids.
It's not like things ever got sexual.
Not an affair.
Not not an affair.
But how could I cut him off when he tells me his best friend's girlfriend's daughter is missing. Ran away from home, but her truck was found in a precarious spot.
I'm not heartless.
I am curious.
I should text him.
*****Thinking of you.
That's nice. That's good. Not too much pressure.
No. Wait. He needs something to respond to. One question. He can't handle more than one.
The idiot.
Thinking of you. How's your friend holding up?
Comma. Period. Comma. Period.
Comma's better. Less intense.
Thinking of you, how's your friend holding up?
*****What was his friend's name? Name? Name?
DAMMIT!
If I could just look him up, her up. Maybe they've posted online.
Thank you everyone, our daughter is home safely. We want to spend time with her, so we won't be online too much.
Or maybe the news is bad.
They think she might be dead.
Is she dead? Is he consoling? Comforting? If that's the case, I'm probably the last thing on his mind. Why would he text me in the throes of crisis?
Because he always texted you. Every problem. Every sadness. Every complaint. You were his emotional dumping ground.
God, I just wanted to fuck him.
*****Us never talking again was what I wanted.
I got what I wanted, but I need to know. Why won't he just tell me? I just need him to tell me.
Fuck! Fuck! FUCK!
*****Hey.
*****Hey.