More Than We Can Tell

Saturday, March 17      4:16 p.m.

From: N1ghtm@re4

To: Azure M

What’s wrong? I haven’t seen you in a while. All tied up?

And then there’s a picture. It’s a screenshot of my avatar, Photoshopped to look like she’s bound and unconscious. Or maybe dead. I don’t bother to figure it out before slamming my finger on the trackpad to close his message.

I’m breathing so hard I’m worried I’m going to hyperventilate.

I block him again.

My heart needs to slow down.

I’m glad I’m alone in the house—but at the same time, I’m not.

I imagine the conversation.

Mom, a guy sent me a picture of my avatar and she’s all tied up.

Emma, I told you to stay away from technology. When will you ever learn?

I swallow. No, thank you.

I click over to iMessage. My father still hasn’t written back.

I can’t talk to Cait about this. She wouldn’t understand.

Then I remember the message from Ethan this morning. He might be online. I pull on my headphones and log in to my game.

Nope, he’s not there. But I switch over to Battle Realms to see if he’s playing there.

Bingo! I send him a team request.

“Hey,” he says, sounding surprised. “All okay?”

“Hey,” I say. “Yeah, just—family drama.”

He snorts. “I know all about it.” A pause. “You sound upset.”

I am upset. I need to move past this. It’s an altered screenshot. I’ve gotten them before. “It’s fine. I’m fine.”

“You want to talk about it?”

“God, no. I just need to play.”

Ethan laughs. “That’s my girl.”

I barely know him, but hearing his voice makes me feel less alone. In-game, with my headphones on, I’m never alone.

I take a deep breath and start playing.