Connection Lost

Monday.

8:09

"Hey, Jenny, I’m gonna be a little late."

"Again?" Jennifer grunted.

"I’m sorry. It’s not my fault."

"Max, you say that every time. It’s always someone else’s fault. We’re all waiting."

"No. I mean it. I’m literally at the station, but the train is delayed."

"I’m sure it is."

"I swear."

"Did you do your part of the presentation at least?"

"I did."

"Fine then. But hurry up."

"I promise. I’ll see you soon."

"Yeah. See ya."

She ended the call.

8:12

"Mornin’, Mum!"

"Morning, my favourite offspring."

"I’m your only child..."

"Yup. So what’s up?" her mother asked while sipping coffee.

"Nothing, really."

There was a slight pause.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, totally."

"Darling, that’s something you’ve always said when you’re not okay."

"No-no. I am. I just wanted to hear your voice."

"That’s a weird thing to call about at... umm... 8:12 on a Monday morning. Even for you."

"Yeah."

"But I don’t mind."

"I know."

A buzzing, crackling announcement filled the station.

"What was that?"

"I don’t know. Some announcement at the station. The sound is really shitty."

"Isn’t it always..."

"Yeah."

"Are you coming home this weekend?"

"Yeah. I think so. Uh, mum, everyone’s running. The train probably came. Finally. I gotta run."

"I can’t wait to see you."

"Me, too. I gotta go. Love you!"

"I love you, too, darling."

8:16

"Hey, man, you coming?"

"Yeah, on my way."

"What’s your ETA?"

"Literally five minutes. About to get off the train."

"Cool. I’ll wait for you. I’m just outside Central."

"See you in a few. Whoa... okay..."

"What was that?"

"Nothing. A man with a huge-ass camera almost bumped into me."

"What? I can’t hear you."

"Ah, never mind. See you soon."

He quickened his pace.

8:17

"Hello,"

"Hey, Dad."

"What’s wrong?"

"What do you mean?"

"Darling, what happened? You never call me just because."

"I... uh... I don’t know. I just felt like I should."

"Sweetheart, where are you?"

"I’m on my way to school."

"By metro?"

"As usual, yeah."

"Turn around."

"What? Why?"

"Just do it."

"But I’ll miss my train. I have to get to class."

"Forget class today."

"Dad. You’re scaring me."

"Just leave."

"Okay. Okay. I’m going."

There was a tense silence on the line before muffled yelling took over.

"Sweetheart, what’s going on?"

"I don’t know. People are talking over each other. I can’t see anything. They’re a bit further around the corner. There’s some lady yelling and crying hysterically."

"Don’t go there."

"I won’t."

"Listen to me. Don’t look at them. Just leave."

The call ended.

8:20

"Hi."

"Hi. Who is this?"

"Ha-ha. Very funny. You know it’s me."

"Yeah. I do."

"I’m sorry for yesterday..."

"Uh-huh."

"I mean it."

"Okay."

"Okay, what?"

"Just okay."

"I’ll see you tonight?"

"..."

"Hey? You there?"

"I’m here."

"So, tonight?"

"No."

"Tomorrow then?"

"No. I’m done. For real this time."

"Don't do this..."

Another announcement blared through the station.

"You’re at the station?"

"Yeah."

"Central?"

"Central."

"Leave."

"What? Why?"

Neither of them spoke for a moment.

"I don’t wanna be with you, but I don’t want you to die either."

"What are you on about?"

"Can you see the lady in a red coat?"

"The who?"

"There are cameras. It’s all over the news."

The lights went out.

8:26

"Hey!"

"Hey," she whispered.

"Sorry, love, I can’t hear you well."

"I love you." She covered her mouth with her cupped hand and whispered so softly it was almost a breath.

"I love you, too. Why are you whispering?"

"You’re the best thing that ever happened to me."

"Love, what is going on? Who's yelling there? Where are you?"

"I can’t spea—"

"Hey, can you hear me?"

"…"

"Hello?"

"…"

8:27

Her nail polish matched her red coat. Not that it mattered. Not to anyone else, at least.

The phone screen illuminated her face in the dark as she pulled it from her coat pocket.

"Hello."

"You’ve done well."

She didn’t answer.

"It was a compliment."

Silence.

"That’s my last call."

Tears poured down her cheeks.

8:41

"Hello,"

"Hey, mom. You guys good?"

"Yes, we’re fine. Sophia and Sally are having breakfast and waiting for you."

"Great. That’s great."

"You on your way?"

"I was about to leave the fire station when... Um, there’s been an... incident."

"What kind of incident?"

Silence.

"A bad kind."

"Are you okay?"

"I am. But they need volunteers. A lot of them. I have to go. I have to help. Can you babysit for me? Can you stay with Soph and Sal?"

"I’ll be here."

"Thank you, Mom. And uh... please stay home today. Stay away from Central Station. I gotta run. Kiss the girls for me."