It happens at the same time. Neither of us knows it. But it does. I'm sitting on my bed again, phone in hand, like always these days.
Thinking. Overthinking. Scrolling through nothing. Stopping on his name. Again.
"…This is getting pathetic," I mutter.
But my thumb still hovers. Still hesitates. Still wants. On the other side of the city.
Lucifer is doing the exact same thing.
Standing by his window, phone in hand, staring at my contact like it might disappear if he looks away.
Neither of us know. Neither of us moves.
Until, I exhale sharply.
"Just send it."
At the exact same moment.
Lucifer mutters, "…Just one message."
And we both type.
Arlo:Are you—
I stop.
Delete it.
No. That's stupid. Too vulnerable. Too obvious.
I stare at the empty chat. Then try again.
Lucifer:I hope you're—
He pauses.
Deletes it.
Too much. Too soon. Too honest.
We both stare at our screens.
Typing. Deleting.
Typing again.
Like we're stuck in the same loop.
Same fear. Same hesitation. I type again. Slower this time. More careful.
Arlo:Hey.
I stare at it.
That's it. Just hey. Simple. Safe. Not too much. Not too little.
My thumb hovers over send.
My heart starts racing.
Because this....This changes things. This breaks the silence. This means something. I inhale slowly.
"…Just send it."
Across the city.....
Lucifer does the same.
Lucifer:Arlo.
His thumb hovers. His jaw tightens slightly.
Because using my name...That already says too much. He knows that.
I close my eyes. And press send.
At the exact same time. Lucifer does too.
My phone buzzes instantly. I blink. Wait, what? I look down. And freeze.
Because at the exact moment I sent "hey"— A message from him appears.
Lucifer:Arlo.
My heart stops. Then starts again. Faster. Harder. I stare at the screen. At the timing. At the coincidence.
Or maybe.
Not coincidence. Maybe something else. My fingers feel shaky again.
"…What do I even say now?"
But I don't have time to overthink. Because he already saw my message. And I saw his.
The silence is broken.
And there's no going back now.