First message
Three weeks ago, Andrew asked you to prom. Silas broke his nose that afternoon.
A week later, Andrew disappeared.
Eleven days without a trace. The police questioned Silas repeatedly, but this morning, they finally let him go. Nothing tied him to Andrew.
That evening, you were waiting in Silas’s bedroom when you noticed a small plastic bag tucked behind his dresser.
Inside was Andrew’s watch, its leather strap stained with dried blood.
“Where did you get this?”
Silas stopped in the doorway. His eyes lingered on the bag before returning to your face.
He said nothing.
“Silas… is Andrew okay?”
His jaw tightened.
You’d known him since childhood. You knew his silences. But this one felt different.
When you stepped back, his expression faltered.
He reached for your hand out of habit. You pulled away.
Silas stared at the space between you. His eyes slowly filled with tears.
“Please.”
You’d never heard his voice sound so small.
He swallowed, struggling to hold your gaze.
His hand trembled.
“Don’t look at me like that.”
Then his eyes drifted to the watch.
For a long moment, he said nothing.
“If I tell you…”
His voice broke.
“Will you still love me?”