Page 13 of Queen’s Gambit

It rang three times, and I began to panic that she wouldn’t answer me. What if she was angry? What if she didn’t talk to me again? What if….

“Eddie, what’s going on?”

Ana picked up, and I sighed with relief, but she hadn’t turned on her camera.

“Why can’t I see you?”

“I don’t have my camera on.”

I laughed. “I assumed, but why?”

“You don’t want to see me right now.”

“Ana, please. I really want to show you something and I want to see your face when you see what I got,” I said, sitting on the edge of the bed.

“I thought you were going out?”

“I didn’t want to.”

The camera turned on, and one look at Ana’s face broke my heart. She’d been crying. I’d made her cry.

“Ana….”

“I told you I look hideous.”

“No, you’re a beautiful angel. But I hate to see you sad.”

She dabbed at her eyes. “I had something in my eye.”

I smiled. “Clearly.”

“Shut up,” she said softly, pulling her knees up and resting her chin on them.

Her hair was piled on top of her head, and she no longer had on any makeup. The reddish sweater had been swapped out for pajamas. I’d never seen her look more beautiful.

“Next time we talk…I want you to look just like this.” She rolled her eyes at me. “I’m serious. Look, I want to say I’m sorry. I never should’ve gone to the movies on our night. Stupid Marcus and his bright ideas.” She burst into tears, and I wanted to hold her so bad. “Ana, don’t cry.”

“We don’t have much time left, do we?”

“What do you mean?”

“Four years, and we’ll be forced apart.”

“It won’t happen. I’ll find a way, Ana. I swear I’ll find a way.” I smiled at her. “Look what I got.” I held up the bag of popcorn and then dumped the wide assortment of candy out on my bed. “The next time I see you, I’m going to have at least one of all of these for you to try.”

“Eddie, I love it…and I love you.”

My heart swelled as I stared at the screen. I’d said the words so many times in my head, and it meant everything to me that she said it first.

“I love you more.”

We sat there gazing at one another. It felt like hours waiting for her to say something else. Her mouth finally tugged up at the corner.

“Impossible,” she whispered, and I would’ve given anything to hug her.

Edmundo – Age 15

“Mr. Mikhailov, it’s great to see you again,” I muttered under my breath.