[ WP ] The reason she never called you back was because she was abducted by an alien civilization . She adapted , grew , and lead a rebellion to overthrow the tyrant that ruled there . Today she just texted that she wants to go out again .

\*Bee-beep 
 
 1 new message: 
 
 > *Hey you! I know it's been forever so this is probably weird, but do you think I can see you again?: ) * 
 
 What? I... What?! 
 
 8 years. And I still have her number saved. She never once got in contact but I never did give up on the idea. Think man, what would anyone else say in this situation?... How many other people could have possibly *been* in this situation?! Does that give me free reign to reply with whatever I want? Oh come off it! It's been years, you should n't have kept her number. Just feign ignorance: 
 
 > Uh, sorry, who is this? 
 
 > - Jonathan 
 
 Okay... okay. 
 
 My heart's now going at a rate of knots, shut up, stop making it obvious! God, people are staring. I hate this new open plan office. Calm down. It is n't her. Someone else must have that number now. She did just drop off the face of the planet after all. 
 
 \*Bee-beep 
 
 1 new message: 
 
 > *Oh whoops, forgot to say. It's Caroline! I've been away and I've got the BEST story about it! * 
 
 \*Bee-beep 
 
 New picture message. [ tap to open ] 
 
 It... it's her! A little different from my mental image but that's definitely her all right. We used to work together, for this very company. Albeit in a different office, one with walls. I'd become accustomed to greeting her from the corridor as I'd walk past her door at 8:55 every morning, as well as seeing her during my an afternoon snack break at 2:45pm. The day she told me she was leaving the company, I built up all my courage and stepped right on out of my comfort zone. We went for coffee one afternoon. 
 
 We even went for a walk afterwards. London is quite nice in the one week of warm weather we call Summer. She was wearing a summery dress, quite the jarring difference from the suit with trousers I'd see her in every week day. 
 
 We'd made plans to see each other again. I remember that was when she gave me her personal number. Previously I'd only had the one on the back of a business card that went to her PA. 
 
 Gah! Come back out of the daydream. I have to write a reply: 
 
 > OMG HI! 
 
... No. Too excited. I do n't want to seem weird. DELETE, DELETE, DELETE. 
 
 > I remember.: ) What have you been up to then? 
 
 Was that smiley face creepy? I'm not good at people. 
 
 \*Bee-beep 
 
 > *It's a very long story and you wo n't believe most of it, let's meet in person and I can tell you all about it. Are you still free on Saturday afternoons? * 
 
 She remembers my routine, that must be a good thing surely. 
 
 > Yes. 
 
 \*Bee-beep 
 
 > *Excellent! Come over to mine, I'm at... * 
 
 Woah woah, that's an address! She's inviting me to her house? I've never been to her house. It's completely unfamiliar territory. Why is she doing this? She remebers my routine but forgets that I do n't like unfamiliar spaces? After 8 years I suppose people forget things. There are plenty of other places we could go. Maybe I should suggest one of them. But what if her story is that she went to America and got a PhD or something and she wants to show it off hanging on her wall? 
 
 > What time should I be there? 
 
 \*Bee-beep 
 
 > *Whenever you get here.: ) I do n't know how far you are from mine but I remember you always to eat at 12:30* 
 
 She remembers that much. 
 
 > TFL website says it'll take me an hour to get to your nearest tube, Google maps says it's a 12 minute walk after that. I'll be there at 2. 
 
 I hope it is n't weird that I put the address she gave me into Google maps but what else am I supposed to do with it? 
 
 -- - 
 
 I press the buzzer next to her surname. Her house is in fact her flat. On the top floor which is still only the 3rd floor. She has access to the roof terrace. 
 
 `` Hello'' says the speaker box in her recognisable, although rather distorted voice. 
 
 ``... It's Jonathan.'' I state nervously. 
 
 `` Push the door.'' 
 
 \*bing\* 
 
 I let myself in and immediately make a U-turn to face the lift. What happened next surprised me - when the doors opened on the 3rd floor, there she was. Holding her front door open. No time to register get my bearings. I did n't really know what to do. 
 
 `` Are you going to come out of the lift?'' She smiled. I walked forward. `` Come on in. Can I give you a hug?'' 
 
 I mustered a `` yes'' and she wrapped her arms around me and squeezed a little. I'd missed this. To be honest I did n't want her to let go. 
 
 `` You are never going to believe this if I tell you!'' she said. `` So maybe it's better if I show you...''
