Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 94155 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 471(@200wpm)___ 377(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94155 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 471(@200wpm)___ 377(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
“I should go work on tightening up my script. I’m going to head to the library. Are you going to be okay without me?”
I want Jessica to stay with me, but she never works this hard on school assignments. I’m not going to ruin her concentration now.
“I’ll be fine. I’m going to call them…try to get ahold of them.”
“Okay. Keep me posted. Love you.”
She gives me a quick squeeze before scurrying off toward the library. I clutch my books tightly against my chest as I walk back to our dorm. With every step, I feel more anxious. What if something bad has happened to them?
Mark and John are incredibly responsible people. They wouldn’t just miss class for nothing.
I pull out my phone and dial John’s number. It goes right to voicemail. The same thing happens with Mark. I leave them each a message, trying to keep my voice calm, asking them to call me back when they can.
I text them again, too. Still no response.
Where the hell are they? I’m getting really scared. Was there an accident or something? I’m too afraid to check the news.
When I get back to my dorm, I try calling them again, but it still goes right to voicemail. Why are their phones off? What is going on?
I can’t focus on anything; I need to hear from them.
My hands find my stomach. Stress isn’t good for the baby. I need to calm down.
I learned yoga once, so I do a few of the stretches I remember. My phone ringer is all the way up, so I’ll hear if they call.
They don’t call.
Something is terribly wrong. I know it.
I just hope we can get through it together. I don’t know what I would do if I lost them. I can’t raise this baby by myself.
I need them. They have to be okay.
21
Mari
It has been two hours since I got back to my dorm, and Mark and John still haven’t answered my phone calls or texts.
I’ve given up trying to contact them. Obviously, sending more messages isn’t going to help. If they wanted to – or were able to – answer, they would have by now.
There are two options at this point. No meeting would’ve lasted this long. If it did, they would’ve had a break to text me. They would’ve had someone cover class or at least let us know they wouldn’t be in. My meeting idea seemed logical when they were five minutes late, but now, it doesn’t make any sense.
Which means something must be wrong. If Mark and John both were hurt, they wouldn’t be able to contact me.
I finally broke an hour ago and started checking various news outlets. There’s nothing about an accident involving a NYU professor and a grad student. Even if they were waiting to notify family members, there would be some information out by now. News outlets don’t like to wait on a story.
It’s possible that something happened and no one knows yet. Mark and John could’ve gone for a morning hike and gotten lost.
I shake my head. Where would they have gone to hike? They wouldn’t have gone anywhere far enough away to risk missing class. And they would’ve invited me to go along.
I don’t want them to be hurt. I love them, and the last thing I want is to see them injured or worse. However, the only other thing I can think of would be impossible for me to handle, too.
After my news outlet search came up empty, I started to spiral. If they’re not physically unable to contact me, maybe they’re ignoring me on purpose.
I’ve heard of this happening. The guys had seemed super excited about the baby, but they might be getting cold feet now. Raising a kid isn’t easy. It’s an eighteen-year commitment, minimum, and would mean a huge lifestyle change for all of us. John and Mark couldn’t go off gallivanting around the world, leaving me alone with our child – I wouldn’t allow that to happen. But I’m not about to raise this baby by myself! I need Mark and John’s help.
Are the guys risking their careers to avoid being a part of our baby’s life? For all I know, John might have spent the day applying to new universities. He could get a new job easily. Mark could probably change his doctoral candidacy to a new school. Even if he couldn’t, it would be easy for him to avoid me without John in the picture. Mark could just say he refused to be a TA for whomever took over for John’s class.
My heart is racing. This is the only reason left that makes any sense. The guys are ghosting me. I can’t believe this!
Before I go fully insane, my phone pings with a notification. I have a new email in my school account. I open it excitedly, expecting to see something from Mark and John.