Mark was a friend of mine I met in my sophomore year of high school. He always hung out in my friend groups. He was really nice and he would always say hi to me.

I started to really miss him after graduation. I tried getting his number, but he said his phone was broken (he is being honest). He does not use his socials either, usually just plays video games.

I should’ve asked if I could play with him, but it’s too late now. Anyway, for the past few days, I’ve had dreams where I’ve asked Mark for his number and he said: “My phone’s broken”. I asked if I could have his socials and he said he didn’t use them.

One time, I was in the school bus. It was the last day of school. After, I would never see Mark again.

“What’s your number?” I asked. He had a working phone.

“Do you have paper?”

I dug up a piece of paper, ripped off a strip, and began to write with a pen.

“My bus stop is coming, can you give me yours?”

I began to write it down. By the time I finished, he was walking to his house at his stop. I went down the steps and chased him to give him the paper.

His friends gave me strange looks. “Why would she go all that way just to give him her number? That’s weird.”