Carriber Stone

"How are you feeling now, Carriber?" asks Dr. Annie.

Carriber smiles. "Actually... good. In fact, a whole lot better than almost two months ago."

Dr. Annie smiles. "I'm glad for you, Carriber. How did your exams go?"

He shrugs. "Not as good as they would go generally, Dr. Annie. But I think I'll pass all the subjects, though."

"Are you worried?"

"A little. But, luckily, I already got accepted into a college so these marks won't affect me much, I guess."

"How are your parents?"

"They're fine. Happy that I'm returning back to normal... at least almost there. They say I used to be a horrible mess moping around in my room. I became better."

"Nice." Dr. Annie smiled. I am glad he got cured fast. "What about Shanely and Ashton? Have you been talking to them?"

"Yeah. I took up your advice and called them last week. I could tell they were pretty much upset about me not talking to them for over a month."

"How did they react, dear?"

"They were surprised, at first. Then they got mad... especially, Shanely. But at the end they were very happy... thanks Doc."

"It's all your doings, kid. Anyways, you know this is your last session with me, right?"

"Yes, Dr. Annie. I do. I just really want to thank you a lot for helping me in this crucial two months. I think without you, either I would've flunked my exams, or just have done something really bad to myself. I am always thankful for your help."

"Now, Carriber... I am here to help." She smiles. "Now, what's up with your Pen Pal, Allie? You love to talk about her a lot."

Carriber smiles. "She has written four letter to me by now, Doc. Even though she had exams she cared enough to send those. I know it wasn't good of me to not reply to them, but could I do? With depression, it took everything in my body to get up from the bed itself. What could've I written to her? It would have been all sad, sad matters."

Dr. Annie nods, understandingly. "Do you plan to write her back, anytime soon?"

"Yes," he says. "I do, actually. A little more time and I would be replying to all her letters. I just hope she isn't mad at me."

Dr. Annie pats Carriber's hand. "I am sure she will."

"Thanks, Doc."

Like that, an hour passes and Carriber says a final goodbye to Dr. Annie. "Thank you once again, Dr. Annie."

When he steps out of the building, he feels a newer Carriber. A better Carriber. The sunlight seems to be carressing his skin rather than burning it, a soft breeze lingers on his ears, and all this while Carriber realises he actually crossed through one of the most difficult situations he ever faced in his life.

He hears a honk and turns to the car. His dad is waiting for him. Carriber smiles a bit, and climbs into it. "Hi, Dad."

"Hi, Carr. You said bye to Dr. Annie, right?"

He nods. The two reach the house. It was a Thursday, yet the house is bustling with people unlike usual.

Carriber and Dave have holidays as their mid terms are done. Mrs. Stone is having a week off from her work as she had worked overtime a lot before, and Mr. Stone understood he needs a break from work tension for a while.

"Carriber," says his mother. "Guess who's here?"

"US!"

"SHANELY! ASHTON!" Carriber hugs his best friends. "I missed you guys so much!"

"We too," says Ashton.

"You guys go upstairs, I'll make Dave bring snacks."

That's how, the three are seated on the floor of Carriber's room.

"Carr," starts Shanely, "we have to tell you something..."

"What?"

"Um... it's that -"

"We're official now, Carriber," blurts Ashton.

"What?!"

That's when it hits him. He grins broadly. They finally confessed!

He is about to hug them, when Dave opens the door with a tray full of Doritos, Cheetos, Cupcakes and Drinks.

~*~

Dear Allie,

Carriber presses his fingers to the pen. It causes a little pain but somehow he is unable to write something.

"What happened?"

"Huh?" he asks Shanely.

"Carr. You have been staring at the paper for the past five minutes, and the pen is in the same position. What's up?"

"I - I am not able to write a reply."

"What? What's wrong?"

"I don't know... I guess I'm just not able to. I feel a little wrong, I guess."

"Carriber. Don't act stupid. You just now came over through depression. Is that a side effect?"

"Shut up, Shanely."

"Then, what's your problem?"

"I don't know," he says slowly.

She sighes. "What's wrong with you, buddy?"

"Hey! Nothing is!"

She chuckles as Carriber throws a nearby sponge toy at her. "Whatever. Oh, your bestie is calling."

"Oh you mean your boyfriend," Carriber says and smirks.

Shanely blushes and throws back the sponge toy at him. She opens the door and exits the room. "Hey, Ash..."

Carriber chuckles. But when he turns back to the paper, he sighes. "Allie... this is turning me crazy..."

He opens his drawer and takes out an envelope. It is the latest letter he got of Allie's. He opens the envelope, the letter, and begins to read it.

Dear Carriber,
What do I say now? I hope you're becoming better. I miss you. A lot. Somehow, writing letters to you and recieving yours has become a part of my routine. I don't know how you are feeling now, but I wish I do. My exams started yesterday. I had Math. It went okay, I guess. I'll know it once the results come up! Haha! Funny? Not? Lol. I have English tomorrow, and I am pretty confident about it. How about your exams? Did they start, yet? I got accepted to this University a few weeks ago. I found this beautiful broach - it is butterfly shape and blue. It is just gorgeous. I think I might not take an year off before college. Remember I told you I might either take an year off, or just go. I am going to just go. I got my acceptance letter to this college I am planning to go to, yesterday. What about you? And what else? How are Ashton and Shanely? Your parents? Dave? Most importantly how are you? Why won't you reply, Carriber? I know you mentioned it wasn't fair for me, but please reply at least once. I don't care if it is only one sentence. I just need to know how you are. Especially after you told me it's depression. I, sometimes, feel scared you harmed yourself! Yes. I'm that worried. I know we're just Pen Pals, but still, I got really attached to you in a short span of time. Just... reply once. For me. Please.
Allie. (P.S. you know pur Pen Pal assignment is going to get over in a few days, right?)

After reading the letter, Carriber feels the same guilt he felt when he first read this letter.

"I'm sorry, Allie," he had said to himself.

But now, he suddenly gets an idea. He doesn't need to write much. All he writes is a few words.

Dear Allie,
You know the Pen Pal assignment needs to be submitted next week, right? We shouldn't write to each other anymore.
Carriber.

He takes another piece of paper, and writes down: We should exchange numbers, instead.7562819456. Can't wait :)

He smiles broadly and proudly at what he wrote and slips the two papers into an envelope.

~*~

4 days later...

Carriber is laying on his stomach on his bed, when his phone rings.

Unknown number.

He picks it up. "Hello?"

No reply comes out. Confused, he says it again. "Hello?"

"H-hi," comes out a sweet voice of a girl.

"Um, who is it?"

"C - Carriber?"

"Yes. And you are?" he asks politely.

"Hey... this is Allie."

Silence.

"Wait," says Carriber suddenly. "Allie? As in... Allie Watson? As in my Pen Pal?!"

She chuckles. "Yes. Yes. Yes. Hi!"

"OH MY GOD, HI! Sorry for my yellings... I'm just so... something that I can't believe you actually called!"

"Yeah, I was glad you gave me your number though, Carriber."

"I know! Hey, the Pen Pal program ended yesterday for me, by the way."

"Oh, really? It ended the day before yesterday for us. Almost everyone is still planning to keep in touch, you know."

"Absolutely. Why do you think I gave you my number?" He grins.

Allie laughs. "True. So, how have you been these almost three months? I mean, the last letter you wrote me properly, you threw the bomb that you are depressed. You asked me to write to you, and warned me no reply. And FINALLY when you reply, it is just a few words and your phone number."

Carriber smiled a little. So she is genuinely concerned about him.

"Sorry, Allie," he apoligizes. "Really. I am truly, and extremely sorry. But at the same time I am very much thankful towards you that you kept writing to me, even though you were getting no reply. I mean... it wasn't fair to you at all."

"Hey. It's okay. I got over it. Now tell me everything."

"When I told everyone I was depressed, they were... shocked. But they got over it lightning fast and got me into therapy. So basically, in the past two and a half months, I was dealing with exam stress, depression, and therapy. It was a bit shitty, honestly."

"Are you out of it?" she asks, bluntly.

"Yep," replies Carriber, happily. "I am. And it feels so good and better. Reminds me of the saying - 'A bone gets stronger after it gets mended.' So proud."

"Same. I too am extremely proud of you."

"Thank you, Allie."

"How were your exams?"

"Er, not as great as I want them, or as great as they would generally go. I mean, I think I'll pass all. What about yours?"

"They went nice enough. What about college? You still accepted?"

"Yes! Luckily."

She chuckles. "Me too. You have a pretty husky voice. A little cracked."

"I'll try to take it as a compliment, Pen Pal. I like your voice. It's sweet."

"Geez, thanks."

And like that, the two Pen Pals keep talking for another twenty minutes. And when they cut the call, Carriber feels a warm tingle in his stomach.