Ringer

Chapter 3

CHAPTER 3

Toby

I couldn’t sleep. Not even if I tried. She was so beautiful, like a lost ray of sunshine.

She reminded me of Lucy.

It killed me, watching her die in my arms 3 years ago.

Ringer was deceptive, I knew she was hiding something.

In the still of the night, the only sounds were rats hiding in the cramped room in the gas station and the moans of the undead. She was sound asleep, but I couldn’t force my guard down even for 15 minutes of shut-eye.

I wish she knew how I felt about her.

I’ve only known her for a day. I don’t want to freak her out.

What if she found out about me? Who I really was? I’d never have a chance with her. But if I plan to stay with her, though all this, I must find a way to tell her.

I stare up at through the beat-up roof of the old 7-11 and all I see is stars.

Some days I wonder what it would be like if the hum of electricity and cars returned.

Lucy used to love cars.

As I tear up, my body feels like dead weight as all my exhaustion reaches an unbearable point.

My eyelids feel so heavy.

Before I close them to try and sleep though, I whisper into the night, “Goodnight, Lucy.”