Left on Read (Short Story)

CONNOR – 9:10 PM

This feeling. I hate it. She isn’t here next to me. Left me on read. Where is my girlfriend?

My name is Steven Connors. I am twenty three years old. I recently got a new job at a programming company. A pretty decent job. Money which could pay for so many great date ideas. But Isabel, my girlfriend, is out again. She is what you would call a free spirit. She climbs boulders. Bouldering, I think it is called. Works at a climbing spot too. Obsessed. Also into horoscopes. She is a Sagittarius. Representing the Archer she says. Aiming for the horizon, new experiences, and the truth.

That's what I am afraid of. That I might not be part of those new experiences, and another man might be. She still left me on read. Where is she?

ISABEL – 8:16 PM

Where is my phone? Oh yeah. I tossed accidentally into the street. And a car ran over it. I feel like I am forgetting something? No, probably not. I am out drinking with my co-workers Antonia and Harvey. I am pretty damn close with Antonia – my best friend at the climbing gym. We both work there. Anyway, Harvey was a new recruit – a hot Spanish guy on exchange. An excellent climber.

Anyway, I knew I needed to set Antonia up with him. She's not seen any action whatsoever in the past year. Broke up with her long term boyfriend. She needed a toy. We went out for drinks. Harvey was so funny. Seriously.

Antonia ditched me half an hour later. Needed to see her sister who was sick. Fair. Knew that she wasn’t lying. But Harvey wanted to keep hanging out. Now… Believe me. It was completely normal.

He stopped making so many jokes. Started to talk about his climbing goals. He wanted to do free solo. That is when you climb hundreds of feet without climbing gear. No safety harnesses. Nothing. It was so damn interesting. I had been thinking of doing the same thing – but nobody shared my same crazy ideas.

Oh yeah. How did I lose my phone? I was so drunk from one bar to the next that I threw it.

“Why’d you do that?” He laughed.

“I dunno…” I said.

CONNOR 9:54 PM

I am sweating. A bad feeling in the pit of my stomach. I look in the mirror. I see a man of average height, average looks, and I’m not naked – but of average penis size. I have always felt inadequate. A couple more inches here and there – and I wouldn’t feel so insecure. Really…

I distracted myself by busting a nut in our shared flat. We live together. Now for a year. She is the messy one, and I am always cleaning up for her.

I look at her dressing cabinet. Lipsticks. Make-up which I cannot even begin to understand. I don’t know what I am looking for. I open the top drawer. There is a bunch of candy, pencils, and documents. In the corner is a plastic bag scrunched up. I opened the bag. Condoms!

But we don’t use them. She is on the pill.

I send out a text. Not even delivered. I am worried. Sweating. I get into the car and drive to the climbing gym. Maybe something happened?

ISABEL 10:12 PM

Harvey wanted to go back to the climbing gym. Drunk climbing was another experience. Sure. I didn’t have anything today. Wait… Fuck! Connor! How could I forget my boyfriend?

Drinks were only supposed to last a couple of hours. It’s been four. And I am alone with Harvey and he has been looking at me in a certain way.

When we get to the climbing gym. It is closed. I unlock it. Use the gym phone to call Connor.

“Sorry babe… I had some danger-safety issues to sort out at the gym…” I try not to sound shaky drunk.

“No you don’t need to come pick me up. I will get an Uber once I sort it out… Sorry my phone broke… And I need a new one… I love you,” I cut the call. Phew. I don’t think he noticed.

"Shall we climb?" Harvey said taking his shirt off. Bulging muscles and six pack abs. What?!