You say you don't want to talk,

no one call, text, or say a word.

I know you won't turn me down,

cause to you, I'm not "no one"

"I love you"

there's a reply.

"I'm sorry he's gone"

my heart sinks.

He died in an accident,

Heart stopped in an ambulance.

That was it,

you were gone.

I threw my phone across the room,

broke down and cried for you.

Said, "God, you took him too soon"

God smiled and said, "Sorry I've been a fool"

Another text under your name.

Your brother says, "He's alive! I just got the call"

Rejoyce!

I've got no fear at all.

I know what I want now.

I know who it is.

It's you I love,

It's you, you fool.

"Tell him I'm thinking of him"

"No he'll call you.

You know he says so much,

he really does love you"

I love him too,

that fool.

Why?

I can't explain it.

Life is so much better.

It's better with you here,

calling me beautiful

and laughing because I can't read.

I love you,

please don't ever leave.

(based on true events)

Ding!

I roll over and grunt. My phone has not stopped beeping all night long. I was so exhausted from the night before but every memory is blurred around the edges. My eyes flutter open and the light illuminating from my phone burns my eyes. I pick up my phone and see the email notification titles, “Congratulations!”

I glance at the time. It reads, “4:46” I laugh aloud and throw my phone across my bedroom and pull the covers over my head.

Ding!

Irritated I rip the covers off my head and sit up. My feet find their way to the floor and I stumble to collect my phone. I turn it to the side and silence it and notice it’s already been silence. I furrow my brows. That’s odd, I think to myself. I stumble back to my bed and set my phone on my nightstand. I curl back under my blankets and find the perfect spot where my body snuggles the memory foam.

Ding!

My eyes shoot open with rage. I flip out of my covers and sit straight up. I grab my phone and read the title to another email, “Congratulations!” I open the email app to notice twenty emails titled with “Congratulations!” Curiosity over powers the urge to fall back to sleep. I open a random email. It reads:

Dear Anthony Sandas,

You have been selected to be the first sacrifice!

Please have all of your personal items sorted away.

Also note, money cannot be transferred into the afterlife.

Thank you for volunteering!

The council of the dead.

I reread it several times.

You have been selected to be the first sacrifice!

Like an echo bouncing off the walls in my skull. I chuckle, “No, this is just some sick joke my friends are playing on me,” I click another email.

You have been selected…

It says the same exact thing. They all say the same thing. 

I call Destiny to see if she can jog my memory from last night. Her phone rings and rings and rings. She never picks up. It also never goes to voicemail. I try again. It rings and rings and rings, but no voicemail. I rub my eyes hoping that I’m just sleeping. I set my phone on my pillow and go to take a shower. Maybe the cold water splashing over my tired body will wake me up from this nightmare of a joke.

In the shower I hear my phone ringing and ringing. I just put frantically and slip on the wet tile. My ankle twists into an “L” shape but I pull myself up using the counter. I try walking on the foot but I fall again only furthering my injury.  I pull myself to my bed and use my upper body and the sheets to lift myself onto the bed. The number is unknown. I answer anyways, “Hello?” I croke. 

“Ah! Mr. Sandas! Congratulations on your selection!” The man on the other side of the line is overly cheerful.

“Wait,” I pause, “Who are you and how did you get my number?” I wait for him to answer but then I interrupt him, “Did Destiney put you up to this? This isn’t funny anymore. I’m genuinely concerned.”

The man on the other side of the phone stutters, “Mr. Sandas I can assure you this is not a joke! This is a government issue. I’m calling to let you know that your cab will be arriving shortly,” He hangs up without a chance for me to respond.

I’m completely lost.

Honk! Honk!

The cab is here and men in uniforms burst through my bedroom door. I jump out of my skin and reach for a pillow to cover myself. They don’t seem to notice my bare body. I grab my arms from hiding my body and I’m fully exposed to them. Another man walks up and my face and announced, “Anthony, you are the first of the sacrifice. In 7 days there will be a final sacrifice. Congratulations on being the first,” his voice is deep and intimidating. He steps out of the way of the door and the men keeping my arms restrained behind my back push me out the door. 

I hear my phone start to ring again.