She sends the message, hoping for a hint this time. She loves the one on the other end of the line.
A minute later she checks her outbox. The message still hasn't been read.
x Five minutes later she leaves the site, to listen to music.
xx Ten minutes later she returns, checks her messages. Nothing.
xxx Twenty minutes later she browses the site mindlessly, waiting for her message.
xxxx Twenty-one minutes later she checks her outbox again. Nothing.
xxxxx A half-hour later, she sits at the computer; staring at her inbox. Nothing.
xxxxxx Forty minutes later she shuts off the site and works on her homework. It does need to get done, after all.
xxxxxxx An hour later she is done. She checks her outbox, the message still lies there. The person is still logged in.
She turns off the computer and closes her eyes, crying inside.
(c) 2009 by Lena Curtin
