epilogue two
Isaiah’s Phone
Lil Bro : Hey, quick question: How do you get the crying to stop?
Isaiah : You what? James, dude, I nearly had a heart attack.
Lil Bro : Sorry.
Isaiah : Who is crying? Is it your students? Because if so, I can imagine them crying non-stop. There’s nothing you can do about it. But if it’s someone else? Could it possibly be a girl? Of course not, what am I saying?
Lil Bro : Can you concentrate for a second here, Zay?
Isaiah : Sorry, I’m just so confused. James Pan and crying just don’t go together.
Lil Bro : Well, I am. Crying. Can’t stop.
Isaiah : Wait, seriously ?
Lil Bro : Extremely seriously.
Isaiah : Ok, I’m grabbing the next plane to Paris.
Lil Bro : No, don’t do that. I just need some brotherly advice.
Isaiah : Ok. In that case, I’ll need a little more info. Are you hurt in any way? Physically?
Lil Bro : There’s this girl.
Isaiah : Oh. Oh no, James. I knew when it would happen to you, it would be brutal. I’m sorry.
Lil Bro : Wait, what do you mean?
Isaiah : You lack the ability to do things by halves, little bro. I know if you ever got your head out of your ass long enough to notice a girl who actually deserved you, that you’d fall apart. At first.
Lil Bro : To say the least.
Isaiah : Wait, you’re falling apart? I just… Ok, talk to me. What happened.
Lil Bro : She… It’s bad, Zay.
Isaiah : …
Lil Bro : Are you there?
Isaiah : How bad?
Lil Bro : Remember when you and Eden—
Isaiah : Is it as bad as that?
Lil Bro : Nothing is as bad as what you and Eden went through.
Lil Bro : But yeah, it’s like that. A bit worse, if I’m honest .
Isaiah : Jesus Christ.
Lil Bro : I just… I don’t know how to save her.
Isaiah : It’s not your job to save her.
Lil Bro : I know.
Lil Bro : Wait, actually, that’s a lie. If it’s not my job, then whose is it? I’m the one who’s here. I am the one whose heart is breaking.
Isaiah : James, you never… You’ve never cared like that for anyone before. Apart from me and Mom.
Lil Bro : She did this to me.
Isaiah : …
Lil Bro : Don’t you dare laugh, Zay!
Isaiah : What else has this done to you, this super girl?
Lil Bro : Well, the crying thing, for starters.
Isaiah : What, is she a better musician than you? No, scratch that, impossible.
Isaiah : Or have you fallen so hopelessly in love?
Lil Bro : Yes. And yes. To both.
Isaiah : What?
Isaiah : I literally can’t believe this.
Lil Bro : What do I do, Zay? I’m losing my mind over here.
Isaiah : You’ve jumped on enough planes for me. Now it’s my turn. I’ll be there in a few hours.
Lil Bro : Eden is right, you’re such a drama queen. There’s really no need .
Isaiah : Yeah? Tell me one thing, have you stopped crying this whole time we’ve been texting?
Lil Bro : …
Isaiah : Are you crying now?
Lil Bro : …
Isaiah : Right. I’m getting on that plane.
Isaiah : Going to call my assistant now, to arrange my flight, ok? Try to keep what’s left of your sanity until I get there.
Lil Bro : Too late. She’s stolen it.
Isaiah : Oh how the mighty have fallen.
Lil Bro : Shut up.
Lil Bro : Zay?
Isaiah : Yeah?
Lil Bro : Hurry. I’m barely holding on.