Hey fag. Where are you?
The casual vulgarity of the exchange is infuriating. “Why is this your circle?” I snap, but he brushes it off with a nonchalant shrug.
When he disappears for hours again, I message Alice.
Me:
He’s in the sea or running on rocks or something. I don’t know.
Alice:
Sorry, that’s hilarious imagery.
"Hey, where’d Timmy go?"
"Oh, he’s in the sea."
I laugh, the absurdity of my life laid bare in her messages.
Alice:
He’s become a quest in a video game:
Find Timmy.
Hints: The Rocks, The Sea.
Deterrents: Unpredictable Behavior.
Me:
An enraged surfer angry about reality tv. Either in the sea or climbing a rock.
Alice:
Credit where it's due.
Me:
I looked at his phone just before and a drug dealer messaged him to say, ‘hey fag, where did you go?’ or something like that.
So I’ll see if he replies haha.
Alice:
Yeah, that's how I talk to my besties, too.
That's how you know our friends are quality.
Me:
Lmfao.
You are making me laugh, thank you.
Alice:
I clown with my friends, but I don't hurl slurs at them.