Collision (19 page)

You said that this was the most wonderful summer of your life. It was the most wonderful summer of my life too. But I’ll have to be honest and tell you that it was more than just my most wonderful summer. It had to be the most wonderful time in my life, period. Nothing’s ever come close. And trust me, I’ve experienced a lot of great things.

I don’t know what you think of me personally, what with our differences and stuff. But I think we made a pretty good unit, you and I. We kept each other entertained for sixty-some-odd days. Just two people. We never got on each other’s nerves or fought…well, at least not for more than a few minutes. We never ran out of things to talk about, and you never ceased to keep me hanging on your every word. I’ve never met someone who could keep my attention like you do, someone who’s willing to go toe to toe (or shin to shin) with me and not back down, and someone who broke my heart, like you managed to do when you climbed into that car and drove off.

I have a feeling that you’re doubting whether or not you’ll ever see me again. Just know that on my part, I’m going to do everything I can to make sure that we get to spend time together again and often.

You’ve opened my eyes to a whole new world. I don’t plan on closing them back. You also opened my heart. I won’t be closing that back either.

Anyway, that’s all I wanted to say. Well, that and STAY. But I guess it’s a little late for that.

I hope you had a great flight and a safe trip back to Gulu.

I’ll be waiting to hear from you.

Write when you get some time.

Miss you already.

Cabot

I contemplated not sending it. I saved it in the draft pile and then opened it back up and started to push “send” again. Then I stopped and pushed the draft button again. This repeated itself about seventy-five times until I finally pushed the “send” button before I changed my mind again.

As soon as I knew it was gone and I wouldn’t be able to get it back, my heart sank. I was scared out of my mind of what I’d done and what she’d think about it.

I slammed the laptop shut and tossed it into the chair in the corner, climbed under the covers and pulled them over my head, and tried to go to sleep.

I slept all the way through to the next morning. When I opened my computer and went to my homepage, it showed I had one unread message.

It took more than a half hour, but I finally worked up the courage to open the message.

Subject:
Re: You just left

To:
YardballChamp07

From:
UgandaKei

Date:
July 28, 2007

Cabot,

Way to make a girl cry while she’s sitting in the London airport, surrounded by thousands of people. Do you have any idea what a plonker I am? Seriously, I embarrassed myself with all the wailing. They probably think I’ve gone batty and might refuse my boarding the plane. Some friend you are!

Seriously, that was the most wonderful note anyone has ever written me. It’s probably a very good thing you didn’t say all of that in person. I would have been a bawl bag sucking my thumb in the corner. It was touching. Perhaps you should write movies rather than act in them. Merely a suggestion.

What do you mean you don’t know what I think of you personally? I think you’re amazing…and wonderful…and kind…and funny even when you aren’t trying to be. You’re also a very gifted yard ball player. And I agree with you. I think we made a great team while we were together. If I had to spend sixty days with someone, there’s nobody else in the world I would want it to be. You’d be my only choice, for certain!

I do hope to see you again when I come back to the States. In the meantime, I suppose we’ll just have to continue this friendship via e-mail. Thank God for technology, right?

You also opened my eyes to a whole new world. And my heart, well, when it comes to you, I don’t think it could be any more open. You will always have a very special place inside that nobody else could ever fill.

You’re a one of a kind, Cabot, and I’m blessed to have met you.

I suppose I should be signing off now. We’re boarding in less than an hour, and I still need to crutch on over to a food station to get something to eat. You know how bad airline food is…or perhaps you don’t, you first-class bastard!

Thanks again for this amazing laptop. I was playing with it while on the plane. It can do a lot of amazing things, least of all keep me in contact with my best friend from across the globe!

By the way, if you would have asked me to stay, I would have said yes. So, I suppose it’s a good thing you didn’t ask. There’s no telling what trouble we would have gotten into given our emotional state. Some things are best left just as they are.

Already missing you desperately.

Kei

I can’t even describe the reaction in my body when I read the words “I would have said yes.” I can’t tell if it was a positive response because there was hope she had feelings for me or if it was a negative response to the fact that had I manned up and asked her to stay, she would be here with me right now.

I wrote her back immediately.

Subject:
Re: Re: You just left

To:
UgandaKei

From:
YardballChamp07

Date:
July 28, 2007

Kei,

What do you mean you would have stayed? In that case, get your butt back here! While some things are best left as they are, I’m not sure we apply.

Sorry I made you cry. Just know you aren’t alone. I wailed most of the night myself.

Let me know when you make it home. I’ll be worried until you do.

Cabot

I closed the laptop and took a deep breath. That time, when the air entered my body, something else entered too: hope.

C H A P T E R

14

Subject: Where the hell are you?

To:
UgandaKei

From:
YardballChamp07

Date:
August 1, 2007

Kei,

Okay. You’re freaking me out! Where are you? Did you make it home safe? Answer soon or else I’ll have to swoop in and try to save the day.

Waiting to know you’re okay.

C.

•••••

Subject: Re: Where the hell are you?

To:
YardballChamp07

From:
UgandaKei

Date:
August 3, 2007

Worry Wart,

I contemplated not responding for the sheer pleasure of seeing you swoop in and rescue me! I would have loved that!

I am, in fact, alive and well. Can’t say the same for our Internet connection at the mission house. It’s a goner. I must go in to Gulu, to a certain Internet café, to get Internet access. I hate to say that you probably won’t be hearing from me on a regular basis. Guess our plan of frequent communication was made without taking into consideration the horrid Internet connections in East Africa due to dodgy Internet wiring.

How goes it in the States? Are you good?

Kei

•••••

Subject: It’s about time!

To:
UgandaKei

From:
YardballChamp07

Date:
August 4, 2007

Kei,

Completely unacceptable! What can be done to improve the Internet connection? I’ll make some phone calls to see if there’s anything I can do from across the world to fix the problem. You might just see me swoop in after all.

Am I good? I guess I am. Life’s busy, of course. I got to Vancouver yesterday, and James is already driving me insane. There’s a new movie he wants me to do. I’m not so sure it’s a good career move. He’s convinced it is. Wish you were here to run it past. I’d love your opinion.

We start production on
Mystic Fog
on Monday. I met my co-star today. She seems pretty nice. We’re scheduled to film for forty-seven days with a few days off here and there.

I think I’ve got the Teen Choice Awards later this month. The event is crazy. I wish you were here so I could take you. You’d get a jolt out of all the noise.

Fill me in on what’s going on in your world.

C.

•••••

Subject: Re: It’s about time!

To:
YardballChamp07

From:
UgandaKei

Date:
August 8, 2007

Superman,

Miracle! The Internet connection is back! We got a surprise donation to the mission, and it was designated specifically for new Internet wiring. Then, lo and behold, a crew shows up that very day to repair the lines. Geez. Wonder how all that came about?

You shouldn’t have, but I’m glad you did! Thanks! You’re splendid!

Regarding the project: Do you take your shirt off in the film? If so, I say no, no matter how much the girls want to see your pecs. Just say no! Repeat after me: No rubbish!

Is
Mystic Fog
the one you were telling me about where the young girl disappears while her family is on vacation and you’re the brother who’s helping to look for her? I remember thinking it sounded very interesting.

Teen Choice Awards, huh? Sounds frightening. I believe I was afraid of teens even when I was one. Please be sure to send photographs of the event. I’m sure I will enjoy them.

My world is back to normal. We’re doing trauma counseling in the villages close to town. Mostly women, of course. This weekend, I’m leading a children’s sermon near Jinja and looking forward to it immensely. The children love music, and we’ll be playing a lot of it. I’ll try to get some video to send your way. I think you’d enjoy seeing the children sing and dance.

Mom and Dad are leaving for Sudan next week, so I’ll be here alone. Wish you were here to keep me company and play yard ball with.

Kei

•••••

Subject: Say what?

To:
UgandaKei

From:
YardBallChamp07

Date:
August 9, 2007

Kei,

What do you mean you’ll be alone? Is that even safe? I don’t like it. Thanks to you, I’ll do nothing but worry all next week. Be sure to let me know as soon as they get back so I can stop biting my nails.