I was doing laundry humming to myself, lost in my own world when my aunt walked into the bathroom. I stepped aside thinking that she needed something but instead she stood toe to toe with me glaring at me.

"Why are you humming?"She asked as if it was the biggest sin in the world.

I didn't reply and just kept silent knowing my reply would make her mad.

"What's got you so happy?"

I wanted to shout the name William but then she'd be onto me and I'd be doomed.

"What are you hiding?"She was getting frustrated but I would not satisfy her with a reply.

"I know you're hiding something from me. I just can't put my finger on it but when I do and I always do you're going to rue the day you were born. Now get out of my way."She hissed threateningly.

I wasn't in her way but she still pushed me and I fell butt first into a huge plastic basin with soapy water. I gasped when I realized what she had done. My phone had been in my pocket and since I was waist deep in the water it was soaked. I couldn't get up because my aunt was staring at me daring me to make a move so I just sat there any hope of saving my phone dwindling with each passing second.

"Make sure you're done with all this in an hour. After that scrub this bathroom top to bottom then move to the living room."She instructed and instead of replying I just sat there willing the tears not to fall.

"Do I make myself clear?!"She yelled and I flinched.

"Yes aunt."I whispered.

When she finally left I jumped out of the water and fished out my phone drying it on a towel. The battery was inbuilt so I couldn't disassemble it and try to dry it inside. I rushed to the kitchen and quickly put it in a bowl of rice hoping to make it better. I took a deep breath willing the tears not to fall but a few escaped my eyes.

If my phone died then so did my relationship with William seeing as my phone was my only connection to him. Reciting a prayer to God for help, I went back to the bathroom to finish the laundry knowing the phone needed time.

There hours later I had finished doing the laundry, changed into dry clothes, scrubbed the apartment top to bottom and cooked my aunt lunch. She retired to her bedroom after eating so I took that chance to fish the phone out and check up on it. I tried to turn it on but to no avail. I didn't want to cry or loose hope yet so I decided to go down and see Simon, he could help me.

I checked in on my aunt and realized that she was asleep so I quietly snuck out of the house and went to Simon's shop. He didn't go to church so he was always open on Sundays.

I used the back door to avoid being seen by people. He smiled immediately he saw me but it dropped once he saw the look on my face. He pulled me into a hug that I fell into his embrace tears escaping my eyes. If I had a dad out there, I wished he was like Simon, kind and good hearted.

"What did she do this time?"He asked already knowing the cause of my tears.

"She pushed me into a basin of water."I cried.

"That doesn't sound so bad."

"My phone was in my pocket."I replied more tears falling from my face.

"Now that is bad."He agreed and we broke off our hug.

"I soaked it in rice for three hours but it didn't help."I explained phone clutched tightly in hand.

"Give it to me and I'll see what I can do."Simon requested holding his palm out.

I gave it to him and sat down as he opened it up with his tools. I knew I would get in trouble if my aunt woke up and I wasn't there but at the moment I didn't care. All I wanted to do was make sure that my connection to William was still intact or I'd go crazy.

Thirty minutes later Simon turned to me with a sad look in his eyes and I knew that I was done. I broke into heart wrenching tears right there crying into my hands. Simon pulled me into a hug me to comfort me. I thought he'd have given me some good news but I must have been doomed to loose the only good thing in my life besides Simon of course.

"Why is the phone so important to you?"Simon asked once we pulled away as he handed me a tissue to wipe my tears. He knew that there was more to the tears than just losing my phone.

"I met a boy online."I admitted blowing my nose noisily not giving any more information.

"Now that explains it. I'm sorry sweetheart."He consoled.

"It's okay Simon. It's not your fault."

"You know I'd give you mine but it would be useless."He offered and I smiled gratefully.

Simon hated smartphones so he only used the small phones with buttons on them.

"Thank you but it's done. Can I use your laptop for a minute?"I requested.

"Of course here you go."He replied putting it on my lap and left for the front of his shop to give me space.

I logged into my Instagram account the keys blurring because of my tears but I still managed. I was planning on texting William goodbye but he was online so I video called him. I wanted to see his face one last time before I lost him forever. He picked up with a confused look on his face.

Isn't it a little too early for you to be online?

William.

Angel why are you crying? What happened? What's wrong?

Amid sobs and chocked up words I managed to tell him what happened. He looked just as defeated as me but there was nothing to say but goodbye.

How about I send you money to buy another phone? This can't be the last time we talk.

We've already had this conversation William. I don't even have an account where would you send it.

Fuck this sucks. I know I shouldn't cuss but I'm loosing you.

I'm sorry Will. Take care of yourself and please don't forget me because I won't forget you.

Don't say that angel please. Ill find a way, I promise.

I wanted to say more but I didn't know if it was the right time. Well I'd probably never get another chance so so decided to just go for it.

I love you William.

I didn't expect him to say it back. I just wanted to get it off my chest since I'd never get to say it to him again. He was the only boy who had ever shown true care for me. Even though I'd tried not to fall for him seeing as he was continents away my heart didn't listen.

I love you too Angel. So much.

I smiled genuinely when I heard him say those words and it was the best goodbye I could have ever asked for.

Bye William.

I'm not saying goodbye. I'll find a way.

I looked at him sadly memorizing ever inch of his face and burning it to mind before kissing my fingers and placing them on the screen. He did the same and I shut the laptop when I saw that he was about to start crying too. I didn't have the strength to watch him break down because of me.

I saw Simon looking at me with sad eyes but I didn't want his pity, I wanted William but I had lost him. I stood up, handed the laptop to Simon and left the shop knowing I'd been away too long and my aunt was possibly awake.

As if the heavens were on my side she was still sleeping so it gave me time to wallow in sorrow without her hovering over me. I didn't want to see her because it was all her fault and yet I couldn't tell her about it. I had just lost the one person that meant everything to me and loved me back genuinely. My life would never be the same again. 

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Yeah pepper makes me cry too. What makes you cry?