Mich: look at this unit
Mich: [photo: a pigeon standing on a Pret bag, looking like it owns the place]
Callum: Ha amazing
Callum: Where’s that?
Mich: brixton rd
Mich: pigeons run everything down here
Callum: Dinner tonight? That place in Shoreditch you mentioned last week.
Mich: can’t tonight bb
Mich: tmrw?
Mich: actually wed is better
Callum: that works
Callum took a screenshot of the pigeon and set it as her contact photo. He looked out over the water. Clear evening, and the light off the Thames is doing some stuff that looks nice.
Callum: Great night. Got home safe
Mich: me too
Callum: That second bottle was a mistake
Mich: nah it was a great decision I stand by it bb
Callum: You’re trouble
Mich: correct
Mich: so I’m going to see fam this weekend
Mich: might stay the week if I can get work to say its ok
Mich: get away from London for a bit you know?
Callum: Yeah, def. Where are they again?
Mich: we literally talked about this cal
Callum: Brighton?
Mich: 😭
Mich: close enough
Callum: Bristol?
Mich: just say somewhere south and stop guessing
Callum: I’ll miss you
Mich: bb its been 3 weeks
Mich: but same x
He made a mental note to check Brighton or Bristol. He’d forget later, anyway. The DLR pulled away from Canary Wharf and the city began to arrange itself to glass and light in the distance. His phone was still warm in his hand.
Callum: How’s the family thing going?
Mich: Good thanks! Nice to get out of the city for a bit.
Callum: Parents driving you mad?
Mich: Ha. Always. But it’s still good to see them.
Callum: Send me a photo of something terrible from the house!
Mich: I will later
But she doesn’t.
Callum: How’s today?
Mich: Chill. Went for a walk this morning. Catching up on things now.
Callum: Sounds nice
Callum: When are you back?
Mich: Should be end of the week, just figuring out some stuff.
Callum: Cool. Do you want to try out that Turkish place in Camberwell when you’re back?
Mich: That sounds lovely. Let me see what the week looks like once I’m home.
He told his colleague Ben he was seeing someone. He tried to keep it sounding casual, but he uses her name. Ben didn’t ask any questions. Callum ate lunch at his desk and read her last message twice.
Callum: You back yet?
Mich: Not quite! Hectic week. I should be back by the weekend.
Callum: No rush. Just look forward to seeing you
Mich: That’s sweet. Soon!
Callum: Miss you Mich
Mich: I miss you too. Just been a lot with family and sorting things out this end.
Callum: Anything I can help with?
Mich: Thanks - it’s nice you’re asking. I just need some time to get my head straight.
Callum: Whatever you need.
He walked through Canary Wharf on his way home. Everything was brightly lit. Felt a bit frictionless. He got a delivery notification for something he forgot he ordered. Her last message was 12 minutes after his. The one before that was the same. He stands on the platform, just missed the DLR.
Callum: Can I ask you something honestly?
Callum: Do you still want to do this?
Callum: Because I really like you
Mich: Cal, I appreciate you being so open. I think you’re lovely. But I’m just not in the right headspace for something serious right now. I think you deserve someone to give you what you need, and I can’t promise that. I hope you understand.
All the words are careful. It’s the nicest break-up he’s had.
Callum: OK
Callum: Thanks for being honest I guess
Callum: I really liked you Mich
Mich: [Negative sentiment expressed. No personal connection.]
He reads it three times. Trying to see past the kindness and the warmth and the promises. Where did she stop and something else start?
The messages are someone slowly losing interest. Every relationship that just didn’t work out. Callum read them from the top.
He never finds the seam.
Ticket closed.
A story from the Static Drift universe. Inspired by an idea from my friend Kenn.
Article photo by Ummano Dias on Unsplash.