Places I Never Meant To Go

by Shay Lynam

  “Because then you would have to pay me severance.” Jameson, not James or Jim, opened his mouth but I continued. “Instead, let me tell you this. I really dislike you. Honestly, it keeps me up at night. I mean, if you were any more dense, you'd have your own gravitational field. And also, I quit.”

  Before anyone could say anything else, I turned back around and headed out the door, rubbing my sore throat and promising myself that I would never set foot in that office again.

  It had been a full day of packing and moving my things across the city and now I laid in my bed in the middle of my new room at my new place. The sound of either Jordan or Simon, or both, snoring came through the wall on my right while the creaking sound of Ruby turning over in her bed came in through the wall on my left.

  If I had told myself two months before where I was going to be now, I probably would have laughed in my face while eying the hottie across the bar. After that, I wonder what I would have said. I wonder what Emily would have said. I wonder what she would say if she saw me now.

  I grabbed my laptop off the floor and put it on my bed in front of me. When I opened the screen and logged onto my desktop, I maximized the IM conversation.

  Tyler says: Hey...

  Emily is typing...

  A smile pulled at the corners of my mouth.

  Emily says: Hi.

  Tyler says: It's been a while. I can't help but miss you.

  Emily says: I know.

  Tyler says: I'm sorry I couldn't save you.

  Emily says: It was going to happen one way or another. You can't blame yourself.

  Tyler says: I can't help it. I wish I could find my dad. Make him pay for what he did.

  Emily says: Anger is an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it is stored than to anything on which it is poured.

  Tyler says: ?

  Emily says: Twain :)

  Tyler says: I should have known.

  Emily says: In all honesty, Tyler, you really do seem happy.

  In all honesty I was happy. As happy as I could be. I'd met three new friends turned roommates. I'd gotten out of my crappy apartment, quit my crappy job and made amends with my mother. With the money I'd gotten from her I could do anything. The future was wide open. I could go back to school if I wanted to, or travel or start my own business. In what though I had no idea.

  Tyler says: I think I am happy.

  Emily says: Just remember: Only you can control your future.

  Tyler says: Let me guess, Twain?

  Emily says: Seuss :)

  Tyler says: Ah you got me...I wish I could see you again.

  Emily says: You can.

  Emily sent you a picture. Click to view.

  I smiled again as the photo of Emily with her purple hat and scarf smiled back at me.

  Tyler says: Thanks, Em. Or should I say Gratias tibi ago. ;)

  Emily says: Very good :) Have a good life, Tyler.

  Tyler says: Bye, Em.

  Emily has signed off.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Shay Lynam works as a humble cashier in her hometown in Washington. She lives with her husband, Mike, and puggle, Lucy and spends her free time writing and crafting. You can visit her online on www.shaylynam.com or on Twitter (@shay_lynam)

  PLACES PLAYLIST

   A Bad Dream – Keane

   Rebellion (Lies) – The Arcade Fire

   The Scientist – Coldplay

   Amsterdam – Imagine Dragons

   Silence – Blindside

   MakeDamnSure – Taking Back Sunday

   Unintended – Muse

   Happiness – The Fray

   Stacked – Erik Nordin