He Won't Live Long, so I Must VanishChapter 2

Caleb's POV

When I got home to pick up my documents, I found my bedroom door wide open. I walked closer and froze in the doorway.

My bed had been replaced with a large bed covered in starry-sky bedding. A game console and projector sat against the wall. The desk held a scented candle, sports star figurines, and a pair of matching mugs.

An entire wall was covered with Polaroid photos.

Each picture showed Casey and Hazel. They were making heart signs on a Ferris wheel, pressing their faces together in front of the aquarium glass, and sharing a bowl of hot stew on the hospital rooftop.

Each photo had a date written underneath in colored marker. The oldest one was from three months ago.

Three months ago, Hazel had told me her project was behind schedule and that she'd had to work overtime two weekends in a row.

A handwritten wooden sign hung behind the door.

It read, "Casey's Dating Experience Room. No Entry."

I called my mom, Darlene Johnson, and asked her who had done this to my room.

"Didn't Gia tell you?" Mom was confused.

The phone shifted away, and Gia's voice came through. "I asked Wanda to tell you."

Wanda was in the hospital room too. She quickly chimed in, "I thought Hazel had told him."

After asking everyone, I realized that none of them had bothered to tell me.

When I stayed silent, Mom continued, "There's not enough space in Casey's bedroom for all that stuff. He's just borrowing yours to experience what it's like to live with a girlfriend.

"Once he's had his fun, we'll put everything back the way it was."

I looked at my bed, which was covered with collectible figures.

I asked, "Then where am I supposed to sleep?"

There was a brief silence on the other end of the line.

"Can't you sleep on the living room couch? You used to sleep beside Casey's hospital bed when he was admitted. Why are you being so picky now?"

I hung up and peeled the sticker off the mug on my bedside table. Half of my name showed through, and the other half was black from the leftover glue.

My documents were in the desk's second drawer.

When I opened it, I found it stuffed with Casey's hospital wristbands, pill cases, and a stack of old movie tickets. I moved them aside one by one and found a journal lying on top of my documents.

The cover read, "Casey's Bucket List."

I hadn't wanted to touch it, but a piece of paper tucked inside the journal caught my eye. I recognized the corner right away.

I pulled it out. It was my acceptance letter.

Gia had torn it in half and thrown it into the trash downstairs years ago. Now someone had carefully taped the pieces back together. Stains that wouldn't come off still marked the edges.

I turned to the page where it had been tucked.

"Fall in love with someone like Hazel.

"Have a wedding with someone like Hazel as the bride.

"Have dinner at Hazel's house.

"Go to a sports university and learn boxing."

There was a little smiley face drawn next to the last item on the list.

I stared at that line for a long time.

Years ago, I had begged Gia from the living room floor to give my acceptance letter back. She had torn it up right in front of me.

So it hadn't been thrown away after all. Someone had picked it up and put it back together.

My dreams had become items on his bucket list. He'd even added the wedding I never got to have to it.

I stuffed my ID, personal documents, and acceptance letter into my bag, then put the journal back where I had found it.

My phone buzzed twice. It was a message from Gia.

"Don't touch Casey's things. He'll get upset if he finds out. Sleep at home tonight. There's a folding bed in the storage room."

I opened the bus ticket app. There were only two buses a week to Grandma's town, and the next one was scheduled for Saturday at 7:00 pm.

I booked my ticket, then sent Grandma a message. "Grandma, I bought my ticket. I'll arrive Saturday night."

Grandma replied right away, "Good. I'll wash your blanket so that it'll smell nice and fresh."

I cleared all the collectible figures off my bed and put on fresh sheets and a new comforter cover.

I had my own bedroom. Why should I have to sleep in the storage room?

A little after 11:00 pm, my phone lit up. It was Hazel. She'd said she would call me that evening. She kept her promise, but she was six hours late.

I stared at the screen for a long time before finally answering.

It was quiet on the other end. All I could hear was the hum of the air conditioner and someone breathing softly.

"Hello?"

No one answered.

A few seconds later, a weak voice came through the phone.

"Caleb, Hazel fell asleep. I'm saying good night to you on her behalf."