MESSAGES FROM THE UNKNOWN
My hands are numb as my mind is blank. The horror covers me like a dark shroud.
Then, suddenly... A ring. A text.
My eyes find my phone and can very well see the notification, bright against my dark lockscreen but my mind is frozen.
When it finally thaws I reach over for my phone and my body almost collapses from the instant relief.
It's a text from Mia: Lily! Where the hell are you? Did you already forget you are in a goddamn college? And you have to reach here in goddamn 15 minutes?
I really did forget. You can't blame me. With all this creepy stuff no wonder college is the last thing in my mind.
I kick the package out of my way, sprinting over to my bedroom.
I pull myself out of my comfortable clothes and throw on the college outfit.
Lilian Winslet
Lord, I hope I can make it in time!
I grab my bag which is already laying on the couch from the previous day.
I should have checked it for the books I would need but hey, it's college. I can function without some goddamn books for a day.
I twist the doorknob, clutching my keys tightly I run off. For college or to escape the last few minutes, I am not entirely sure.
Mia
Are you alive or already dead?
Mia's voice echoes in my ears and I turn my head to her.
Lilian Winslet
Sorry, I wasn't listening.
Lilian Winslet
Did something happen?
Mia
You better get your ears checked. They sure are not working very well recently.
Yeah, neither are my eyes. Or my mind. Or my sanity.
Lilian Winslet
Whatever you say.
Mia is already up and heading for the cafeteria.
Lilian Winslet
If you don't mind, could you grab lunch for me too?
Mia
It is one of those shit days then.
Lilian Winslet
You know it.
I give her a weak smile because smiling definitely doesn't fit in this terrifying storm going inside me.
As she leaves, I swish out my phone to shoot mum a quick text asking her about the package, the doll.
Her response comes sooner than one eternity: You got it? Is that the one you lost? I am not entirely sure. I found it in the attic while I was doing some cleaning. I don't quite understand how it got there when it definitely wasn't there the last time I cleaned it. Well, it's good news either way. You got your childhood doll back.
Not gonna lie this is the longest message she has typed besides when she is giving me one of her mom speeches.
My body feels lightweight from the relief of the build-up tension. I was worried about nothing.
Who else could have send it either way? Of course it had to be mum.
Lilian Winslet
Gosh, now I wish I had asked Mia to bring me something else too. I can feel my appetite returning.
Mia is already here. Packet in one hand, cold drinks in another.
She waves at me from across the room, the packet in her hand swinging along.
I let out a sigh, rising up from my seat. I try to grab the drinks from her hands thinking that's what she called me for but she withdraws her hand.
She's shaking her head. Almost too vigorously. Hoping it doesn't fall off.
Mia
I found out a super cute café has opened up on campus. And the tea is really good.
Mia
It's a teeny tiny bit expensive but it's fine.
Lilian Winslet
Well, correct me if I am wrong but the last time you dragged me to a super cute place which was supposedly teeny tiny expensive I returned with an empty wallet.
Mia's mouth drops open as if I have just spoken something inhumanely.
Lilian Winslet
If you insist.
She rolls her eyes at me before turning on her heels and starting to walk. Yeah, she's a bit dramatic.
With how fast Mia walks it only seemed like a few steps but I swear it is thousands of miles away. I am panting!
And for all that the cafe is...mid. At least for me, it is.
Lilian Winslet
I thought you said it is cute?
Lilian Winslet
You did not make me walk this much for a shop you heard about.
Mia
C'mon in. I am sure we will have a lovely time.
Lilian Winslet
Not coming next time.
It is not moments after we find ourselves a table that Mia is already fishing out her phone.
She places her phone with a timer on and we both give a deliberate try for poses before the timer runs out.
Our little photoshoot is disturbed as the waiter comes to take our order. Mia orders coffee while I go for lemon tea.
We try a couple more photos before accepting that today is just not a great day for our photoshoot.
But we still got a pair of photos which Mia is already uploading on her socials.
She unwraps our burgers, digging straight in.
Lilian Winslet
Spill what?
Mia
Drop the mysterious vibe.
Mia
It's pretty obvious something's been bothering you.
Lilian Winslet
It's not actually -
I stop short at a ring. Another text.
But this time not from mum.
Unknown: Got the lilies yet, princess?
The left out question hits me. I never asked mum about the flower. Or the note.
She should have mentioned it when she said about the doll. She would have. But only if she had sent it.
My mind freezes, blocking out Mia's voice.
It is only when my phone is snatched from my hand that the reality slams into me.
Mia
Why are so fussed over a wrong text?
She turns the screen towards me. The text reads: Sorry, wrong number.
It is sent just a minute after the first text.
Mia
Lemme give them a text back.
Mia
Do they not check the number or what?
I see her fingers moving across the screen, her gaze locked.
She hands me back my phone and I see the text she sent: The next time you shoot a text check a contact a trillion times or I will come for you.
It's all fine then, right?
The text is a wrong number.
The lilies and the note must also be a mistake.
Everything fits perfectly.
It is all just a coincidence.
Comments