Chapter 106
Chapter One Hundred Six
Private Message | EchoZone Internal Chat
From: DeadStrings
Subject: Danger?
After a conversation with a friend—well, more like a philosophical interrogation over things we didn’t clear up before—I’ve been thinking.
What if we meet?
Wait. Before you say no, just—hear me out.
We’re strangers. At least by old-school standards. We haven’t seen each other. We haven’t exchanged names, addresses . . . there’re just these late-night messages and a very opinionated cat and dog duo that may or may not become musical collaborators one day.
And I get it. There’s a risk. What if one of us is dangerous? A weirdo? A serial harmonica enthusiast? Cowbell fanatics?
There has to be a way to confirm that this . . . whatever this is—this thing that’s been growing between playlists and confessions and sarcastic debates—is real.
Let’s call it friendship. Even if it feels like more some days, even if it terrifies me to name it anything else.
I just want to make sure it’s legitimate. That I’m not imagining it. That you’re not secretly a con artist using my love of Hall & Oates against me.
(Not that there’s any value in my identity, unless you’re into high school dropouts with one vintage guitar and a dog who attempts to eat trash for sport.)
And, no, I’m not asking for your address. I’m not that kind of fool.
I’ve just been reading the newspaper lately—yes, I got a subscription that arrives every morning at my door.
My older brother does this every morning.
He drinks his coffee black and reads the—whatever local newspaper he reads—cover to cover like he’s in some Hemingway short story.
Weeks hanging out with him turned me into .
. . someone who appreciates the news—even the financial section.
Bonus points, we didn’t kill each other while living together.
People call that kind of thing summer.
My sister called it a miracle.
I think it was something else: a pause.
Now I’m back to thinking about forward motion. About what comes next. And maybe—just maybe—that’s a conversation we should have.
No pressure. Just curiosity.
Write me back when it feels safe.
P.S. Otis votes yes. But he also tried to befriend a raccoon yesterday, so maybe take that with a grain of salt.