Page 38 of Fun and Games

Hi,it said simply.It's Bree.

The reply from David's mom came within seconds.

Hi sweetheart. It's been a long time. How have you been?

I've been good.My hands trembled as I tapped on the keyboard, making typos I had to correct with every word.Sheila said you had something for me.

Yes, she wrote back.Are you back in town? Can we meet up?

I'm still traveling around.

Oh. Will you be home any time soon?

I don't know.

I could sense her disappointment, her worry, in that long silence.

I can mail it to you if you'd like,she wrote eventually.

What is it?I asked.

There's a few personal items,she wrote.Things I thought you might want back. There's also a box I didn't open. I think it was meant just for you.

I looked down at the fresh wound on my cuticle where I'd ripped off the tab of skin. It felt somehow fitting, this physical flesh wound mirroring the torn and jagged edges of my throbbing heart.

I sent a quick text back.

Sure. I'll give you my current address.

Fourteen

The next fewdays were a blur of work and sleep. When I wasn't at my admin job, I explored the city for content to write in my blog and took on extra last minute gigs to keep myself occupied. If I sat at home doing nothing, I knew I'd spend my time obsessing over the package I was going to be receiving in the mail.

What could David possibly have left that his mother had just now found?

Instead of driving myself crazy wondering, I did extra dog-walking duty, shopped for people's groceries to deliver to their home, and other small odd jobs. I found cute little cafes and shops to write about, places no other blogs had discovered yet.

I also started researching which city I should head to after my stint at the tech company was over. David's bucket list notes had been my guide so far.

Not everything we planned on doing was an exciting far-off experience. Some were as simple as trying out the best deep dish pizza in Chicago, or the best poutine in Quebec. Some of his ideas were to walk along different beaches collecting unique seashells from each one, or taking photos from the tallest buildings in various cities.

David was able to find adventure in the smallest of things.

That was why I loved Rogue on the Road's blog so much. I'd found tons of travel blogs when I'd first started mine, but something about that one in particular spoke to me. It wasn't like he always posted about grand adventures. Sometimes it was something as simple as a famous local dish, or an interesting looking building. Sometimes he'd take pictures of a city skyline at nighttime, or a rundown alleyway with cool graffiti. Rogue was always able to find something interesting or unique in everyday life. Always able to find something positive or uplifting to say.

Just like David.

I took out my phone and brought up Rogue's blog again. Still no new posts. It was almost worrying. What had happened six months ago that made him stop posting? Was he okay? He kept his face hidden behind the camera and had never revealed his true identity, so it wasn't like anyone could check up on him.

After David died, after I vowed I wasn't going to let life pass me by, I'd found this guy who had the exact same perspective — someone who lived life and found joy in the smallest things.

I couldn't help but feel a connection to a person like that.

With all my odd jobs, blogging and researching, I was able to put other things out of my mind. So if I hadn't exactly forgotten about the package, at least it wasn't weighing on me every minute of the day.

That was why it took me by surprise when Mason texted me out of the blue.

I hope everything's okay,his message said when I checked it one morning before work.