My notifications started to ping while I was at dinner:
@reba: hey turdface
@reba: hey i wasn’t talking about you
@reba: you realize that right?
@reba: when you hear from me, it’s me, capeesh?
@reba: that means forever
@reba: jfc shitslice did your phone get lost up yr asshole?
My left thumb and right pointer tapped out a reply:
@KJisAOkay: heyy
@KJisAOkay: yes I know thanks for checking in
Five minutes later I felt my phone buzz
@reba: aight babygirl
@reba: just one favor though pls
@reba: pls pls pretty pls
@reba: šššššš
My date rolled his eyes and motioned for the check as I pulled out my phone again:
@KJisAOkay: ok ok yeah yeah what is it?
@reba: take a selfie of where you’re at rn
@KJisAOkay: I said I was on a date!
@reba: yeah lol sure. just do it. flash on
I opened my camera. “Hey Ronald,” I said while looking up, only to realize my date had already left, leaving me with the bill. I turned on the flash and made a peace sign. The light flickered from gold to purple, turning into a beam that wiped clean every variation and version of time around me. The walls of the restaurant evaporated into the final moments of a star. The only sound in the violet glow was a final ping:
@reba: that means forever babygirl
Keegan Shepherd 