Text Messages(Marla) He ignored the phone when it rang. He continued to ignore it when it rang again.

He only glanced at the first two texts as they came in. He saw they were from different contacts.

- Hey, just checking in. Hope you had a good day. Call me.

- Coming to see you on Friday if you are feeling up to it!


But then, eleven minutes later, another text appeared.

- “Hey there. Chemo is in two days, right? Please let me know if you want me to sit with you or if you want me to pick you up.

He stared at the screen. It was the first time he’d stolen a phone. It had been so easy. She had set it down briefly while she was looking at scarves. And now he felt sick, because he knew why she had been looking at them. He went back to the store, keeping his hood up in an effort to hide his face. Heart pounding, he handed the phone to the cashier. He kept his eyes on the floor and was able to say only that it wasn’t his and that perhaps they could find the woman who lost it. He took two steps away, and then turned back, his head still down, as he was still unable to look at the cashier. “Tell her I’m sorry,” he said.

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