[ WP ] It 's the middle of the night . Your iPhone starts ringing . You wake up . You 're getting a Facetime call from someone who died three days earlier .

*Who is calling me at this hour? * I look over at the clock, the glowing numbers projecting 1:32. I stare groggily at my phone, and I am suddenly jolted awake. `` M -- Mom?'' I say aloud. Her joyful face stared at me from the screen. The fresh wounds were violently torn open again, and I start to cry. I slide the bar, and she starts talking to me, but I can not hear her through my tears. After my crying subsides, it's 1:45, and she is waiting for a response of some sort. `` I could n't hear you. I was crying. Could you repeat that?'' 
 
 `` Sure honey. I'm here to talk to you.'' 
 
 `` Are you real? Am I dreaming? Am I dead?'' 
 
 `` No sweetie. But I'm not dead either. I faked my death, you see. The world has become too much for my old bones. I wanted to get away from it all. All of the noise, all of the rush, all of the time. I just wanted to escape. And I thought faking my death would be the best way to do that. So I did.'' 
 
 Joy rushed through me first, then anger, then relief, then worry. `` Where are you? I want to see you again. I miss you.'' 
 
 `` I miss you too honey, but I was trying to get away. After this, my phone is going in the ocean. I'm going to be done with technology. I just wanted to let you know I was okay. I'm happy, and I will be fine.'' 
 
 `` You ca n't. Mom, let me talk to you more. Let me see you. Let me visit you, and hold you, and let me hug you like I never have before. Please.'' 
 
 `` No, I ca n't. I just wanted to let you know you should n't grieve me. I'm alive, I'm well, I'm happy, and I'm living the life I've always wanted to.'' 
 
 `` But how will I know when you're dead? How will I grieve you when I need to?'' 
 
 `` You wo n't. I will slowly fade from your memory. Eventually, you will forget my face, you will forget my voice, and in time, you will forget me.'' 
 
 `` But mom-'' 
 
 `` I love you Mark. I love you, but forget me, go live your life, and never forget how much I love you.'' 
 
 With that, the call shut off. 
 
 *Thank you for reading this. If you want, leave some feedback on my writing and how I can improve. Thanks again! * 
 
 Edited `` Her joyful face on the screen''
