It was nearly three seconds past my appointment when the chestnut doors to Quory's office opened. I carefully walked in, shifting my head up to attempt direct eye contact with him. He looked away.
    "It's 0624:03," I said.
    "What? Oh, yes, of course," the man said, glancing nervously around the room, at the globe with its     calming, animated waves, at the walls, which were slowly but surely fading from auburn to mahagony, and finally directly into my eyes. 
    "I recieved...

THE TEXTS


10/11/16

derek233. hey
derek233. u there
derek233. i know ur there, malia
derek233. come on 
derek233. malia, i can see the "read at 2:37 pm" thing
derek233. malia.
derek233. MALIA!!!!

10/12/16

derek233. listen.
derek233. we haven't talked in days.
derek233. I
derek233. mali, im sorry
derek233. rly
derek233. please answer me

10/14/16

derek233. why weren't you at school?
derek233. malia?

10/17/16

derek233. malia, i feel really bad
derek233. it's my fault that ur staying home
derek233. isn't it ...

    It was nearly three seconds past my appointment when the chestnut doors to Quory's office opened. I carefully walked in, shifting my head up to attempt direct eye contact with him. He looked away.
    "It's 0624:03," I said neatly.
    "What? Oh, yes, of course," the man said, glancing nervously around the room, at the globe with its     calming, animated waves, at the walls, which were slowly but surely fading from auburn to mahagony, and finally directly into my eyes. 
    "I...