It had been four long months since I last spoke to Anita. I lost my phone and with it, her contact. For weeks, I told myself I'd find a way to reach her, but life just kept getting in the way. Now, with a new phone in hand and her number finally saved, I dialed.
The phone rang several times, and then I heard her voice. "Hello?"
That voice I used to know so well, the one that always made me feel safe, but now, hearing her after so long, it made me nervous. My heart raced, unsure of what to expect.
"Anita? It's Jake."
There was a pause. Then, her tone changed—sharper, like a switch had flipped. "Jake? Why hasn't your number been going through? I've been trying to reach you for months!" Her voice rose, the frustration clear. "Why are you even calling me now?"
I froze, not expecting her to sound this angry. The words I had prepared suddenly felt useless, stuck in my throat. I swallowed hard, trying to explain.
"I... I lost my phone, Anita. That's why you couldn't reach me," I said, feeling small. "I just got a new one, and when I found your number, I thought... I thought I should call."
She didn't let me off easy. "Four months, Jake! You disappeared for four months, and now you decide to just call me out of nowhere?"
I could hear the hurt in her voice, and it hit me harder than I expected. I didn't know what to say. No excuse felt good enough. I had messed up, and we both knew it.
As I listened closely, my heart dropped when I heard a man's voice in the background. "Hey, babe, what are your plans for tonight?" he asked so casually like he had every right to.
A storm of emotions hit me—confusion, disappointment, and the sting of betrayal. Has Anita moved on? Was she with someone else now?
Anita, who is that?
Nobody, share said
I couldn't handle the thoughts running through my mind. Before I knew it, I hung up, my stomach churning, my mind spinning. It felt like everything had just fallen apart. After everything we'd been through together even in high school, how could this be happening?
Was that why she sounded so rude earlier? Has she already replaced me?
The thought of Anita with another man wouldn't leave my mind, and the doubts kept eating at me. For the next few days, I ignored all of her calls and texts.
Each time the phone rang, I watched it light up with her name, but I couldn't bring myself to answer. I was consumed by the image of her with someone else, laughing with him, forgetting about me.
Suddenly, my phone buzzed again. This time, I opened the message Anita had sent days ago.
Jake, please, what's going on? Let me explain. It's not what you think. Call me."
I wanted to believe her, but the doubt was overwhelming. That voice—his voice—had sounded so intimate. How could I ever trust her again?
I tried to focus on my work, but Anita was always on my mind. Every corner of the hotel reminded me of her—how we had planned our future, how she had promised to be by my side no matter what. Now, everything felt uncertain.
Four days later, I was standing at the receptionist's desk, focused on some paperwork, when I noticed movement outside from the camera. Glancing up, I saw Anita talking to the security guards. Full of surprise, I quickly looked away, pretending not to notice her.
Minutes later, she walked into the lobby. Her eyes scanned the room, and when she saw me, she froze. For a brief moment, we just stared at each other—her face displaying a combination of confidence and hesitation.
She walked toward me, her steps slow but steady, as if gathering courage with every step.
"Jake!" she called out, walking toward the front desk.
I froze, unsure whether to feel anger or relief. She was the last person I expected to see here, after everything that had happened.
"Anita, what are you doing here?" I asked, my voice harsher than I intended.
She stopped right in front of me, breathing heavily from what seemed like running. "I came to talk. You've been ignoring me for days, and I can't stand it anymore."
I stood up from the desk, my emotions boiling over. "Why should I listen to you? I heard him. I heard his voice!"
Her face softened, and she took a step closer. "Jake, it's not what you think. That was Ryan, a friend from my study group. We were working on an assignment, and were on call with his girlfriend, nothing more."
I shook my head, the pain still fresh. "And you expect me to believe that? Why didn't you call me back right away? You let me think the worst."
Tears filled her eyes, but she held her ground. "I did call you back! Over and over! You just didn't answer. Jake, I love you. Why would I want anyone else?"
Do you know what I went through in the past few months without hearing your voice?
Her words hit me hard. I wanted to believe her, to believe in us, but the doubt wouldn't let go. That voice kept echoing in my mind, making me question everything.
"How do I know you're telling the truth, Anita?" I asked quietly, my voice shaking.
Anita wiped away her tears, her eyes pleading. "Jake, please, you know me. You know I would never hurt you like that. Don't let one misunderstanding ruin everything we've built."
I looked into her eyes, and for a moment, I saw the girl I fell in love with years ago—the girl who promised to stand by me through thick and thin. But the fear of being hurt again was still there, lingering in the back of my mind.
I'm sorry for allowing my insecurities and emotions to get the better part of me. I said
Anita reached for my hand, holding it gently. "Jake, don't give up on us now. You should trust me by now. And do you even know what I have been through over the past few months without hearing your voice?
I'm sorry for that, my phone was stolen," I said, my voice low as I tried to explain.
I could hear the frustration in her silence, but I continued, "And I'm sorry for letting my insecurities get the better of me. I should've trusted you."
With a bright smile, she eagerly announced, "I finally have my graduation date! It's on June 15th!" Her excitement lit up her face, and I could feel the joy radiating between us. We talked about how amazing it would be to celebrate together, imagining all the fun we would have.
Just as I was about to say something, Mr. Thompson walked right up to the receptionist stand. He glanced at Anita, then turned to me, raising an eyebrow. "Jake, who's this?"
My throat went dry, and my hands started to shake a little. I swallowed hard before answering, "This is Anita..."