Finally paying off a credit card and seeing a ton of rain in the extended forecast were the kick in the butt I needed, so I'm now officially a member of the YMCA. 😊
I kinda need a gym membership for treadmill access and Planet Fitness is like $25; while the Y has more local locations that are closer work and home, also gives access to a pool and group fitness classes, AND includes access for Greg all for $65. So, not cheap but I think a better value.
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"It's been another year, huh."
Reki chuckled as he set down his paintbrush to pick up his phone. A notification flashed across his screen, Langa's Birthday surrounded by far too many emojis reminding him of the date. The reminder was set to reappear every year, even if it had been so long since the last time he'd seen the guy. And Reki knew he could have deleted the reminder — he didn't need it after all — but he couldn't bring himself to do such a thing. This felt like the last piece of his youth, one that he couldn't just delete, as easy as it seemed.
Out of habit, his fingers slid across the screen, unlocking the phone. It took a bit of scrolling before finding the conversation with Langa, the picture of a 17-year-old boy biting into a sandwich making him chuckle a bit more. A picture from a lifetime ago; a picture of when time seemed to have stopped for them. And clicking on the conversation, it made Reki realize how long ago it truly was.
It had been deserted for years. He could still see the last words Langa had sent him almost half a decade ago: "Maybe next weekend? I have too much to do this week." The rest had just been Reki. It had just been Reki answering. And then it was a few months later, Reki wishing him a merry Christmas. And then more months later, wishing him a happy birthday. Then it was the yearly text, the happy birthday text which never got a reply.
He didn't have to keep doing it. Langa never answered anyway. For all Reki knew, Langa had changed numbers over the years! But still, his fingers tapped at the screen, an over-excited "happy 24th birthday man!!!!" being sent off. And just like every year, Reki watched the screen, hoping, praying for something to come his way.
He knew it was wishful thinking. He knew Langa wasn't going to answer. Langa probably didn't even see his messages. And yet, he still waited, watching the screen, hoping for something to come up. Maybe if he were patient enough, someone would reply. Probably not, but still.
A few minutes had ticked by the time Reki set his phone down. A few painfully slow minutes had gone by, nothing but the stillness of the world reminding him of his own existence. That was it. There wasn't going to be anything, just like the year before and the one before that. And yet, Reki knew he'd be at it again next year, this time for the big 25. Maybe for 25 Langa would reach out.
It had been a while since the last time Reki's heart had jumped the way it just did. It had been a while since the last time he had jumped on his phone, grabbing it as it chimed against his workbench. It had been a while since he had been this excited, grinning from ear to ear as he unlocked his phone, checking his texts. But just as quickly as it had appeared, the grin faded.
"Error — The number you are trying to reach is out of service."
So that was it. They didn't make it to 25. They hadn't made it. What Reki thought would be forever really wasn't. Forever never existed, did it?
He set his phone down, pushing it away alongside the lump that had formed in his throat. There was no reason for this to hurt so much; he hadn't heard of Langa in years, so why was this time different? Friendships aren't always forever, he knew that, but with Langa? He had hoped it would be different. But it hasn't, had it? Everyone leaves eventually.
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