The Wrong Number

Pain is only temporary, they say. But they forget to add that sometimes, it can kill you in the fleeting moment it exists.

It's almost 2 a.m., and I'm still rolling around in bed, despite knowing I have to work tomorrow. I close my eyes, trying to slow my heartbeat, hoping it will lull me to sleep, but nothing works. All I feel is the excruciating pain that pierces through me with every beat.

I hit my chest, hoping that the physical pain might somehow overpower the emotional agony. It doesn't. Frustrated, I get out of bed and pour myself a glass of water. The apartment feels eerily silent, a stark contrast to how it used to be when Jessica was here.

Jessica, my best friend, moved out last month after getting married. I thought I'd be next, finally tying the knot with Josh, my prince charming. We've been dating for three years. I keep replaying everything in my mind, searching for what I did wrong.

I never cheated. He was my first—my only. I've never asked him for money. I've always been the independent one. So why? The more I think about it, the more my heart aches.

Last week, I heard on the radio that talking about your pain, even if there's no solution, can help ease the burden. I decide to try. I grab my phone and start typing a message to Jessica. I don't want to wake her, though; she's a deep sleeper. I just need to get these feelings out.

I haven't saved her number on my new phone, but I memorized it years ago.

"I have wished a thousand times for this to be a nightmare I could wake up from."

"I keep wondering, what did I do wrong?"

"Tell me, Jessica, if I close my eyes now and fall asleep, will he be mine when I wake up tomorrow?"

"I have loved him with everything in me, and I still do."

"I've always pretended to be strong, but behind closed doors, I cry. I know it will shock you to hear this."

"It's easier to talk to you while you're asleep. Do you think I made a mistake by choosing Josh over Charles?"

"I couldn't help it—he has the most amazing dimples."

"I never told you, but I had an abortion for him once."

As soon as I send that last message, I regret it. Nobody knows about the abortion. I should've kept my mouth shut, but the pain is overwhelming.

I'm in so much pain, I type next.

Tears stream down my face as I pour my heart out into the messages. Jessica might be in a frenzy when she sees them tomorrow, but by then, I'll have my brave face on.

Suddenly, my phone vibrates with a reply.

"Sometimes you must hurt in order to know, fall in order to grow, lose in order to gain. For life's greatest lessons are learned through pain."

I freeze.

Jessica? Quoting something profound? That's new. She's never been one to remember quotes, let alone send one at 2 a.m.

"Did you just quote Nagato?" I reply, surprised.

"I'm surprised you know where it's from," comes the response.

"Of course I do—I'm Naruto's number one fan," I reply, wiping away my tears.

For a moment, my heartache takes a backseat to curiosity. Jessica quoting Nagato? She doesn't even know the difference between Naruto and Sasuke!

"Then clearly, you haven't met me," the texter replies.

What?

"You can't be serious, Jess. I've known you for half my life, and you've never even watched a single episode of Naruto."

"My bad," the reply comes quickly. "I forgot to mention—I'm not Jessica. You've got the wrong number."

My blood runs cold.

Did I just confess my deepest secrets to a total stranger?