Page 140 of Disarm
My phone buzzes in the cup holder.
Caleb
Still alive?
A breathy, involuntary laugh escapes me. I pick up the phone and stare at the screen for a second before typing.
Miguel
Alive.
Didn’t spontaneously combust in the therapist’s chair.
Caleb
Proud of you. How was it? You don’t have to answer that now if you don’t want to.
I rest my head against the headrest, thumb hovering over the keyboard.
Miguel
He was… fine.
Asked a lot of questions. Told me I’m not allowed to be a full-time human life raft because of physics.
Three dots. Stop. Start again.
Caleb
That sounds like something a therapist would say.
Are you okay?
Miguel
Tired. But like… good-tired, not demolition-tired.
Caleb
You still wanna talk to me and not run away to Mexico?
Miguel
Tempting. And if I remember correctly, you were supposed to come with me.
But yeah. I still wanna talk to you.
You at the dorm?
Caleb
Yeah. Just finished getting yelled at by Coach after film review. Can I come over?
Miguel
You. Have. Keys. For the love of God, use them.
I’ll be home in 20.
