I waited for you today

But you didn’t show

A small cafe, just outside Capitol City. When they were younger, they’d always sneak onto the train and come here for sticky buns. Simon tapped the stirring straw on the rim of his long-cold coffee cup and checked his watch again. He’d surely be reprimanded for disappearing from the hospital in the middle of the day, but barring some unscheduled, emergency surgery, they should be able to hold the fort down without him. He pulled out River’s letter again. It had been months since he’d heard from her and the letter had made no sense at first. Could he have misinterpreted her message? Could he have been deluding himself thinking she’d written him some kind of code? It was just a simple rendezvous for sticky buns and reminiscing. And she’d stood him up.

I needed You today

So where did You go?

River cried out in her sleep, tossing the covers from her body, soaked with sweat. She yelled and hollered for Simon, ripping and tearing at her mattress. Ripping and tearing at her own flesh. He had to be in here. He was right here, disappointed with her. He was sitting alone and he was disappointed because she wasn’t there. But she was! Her fingers were sticky from too many sugary treats, her flesh imprinted with the crisscross pattern of the wrought-iron chairs. She tore out the fluff of the mattress, situating herself between the springs in a sitting position and waited for him to show. Simon, where are you?

You told me to call

Said you’d be there

River cried out as strong arms restrained her, pulling her from the springs and shreds of the mattress. A needle pierced the skin of her arm and she screamed, the world reassociating, the drab gray walls coming together to form a room. Had Simon not received word? She needed to be rescued from this place. Would they let her send another letter?

And though I haven’t seen you

Are you still there?

Simon sprawled on his king size bed in the corner flat of his riverside condo, wear