Dear Aaron(16)
It’s been a while since I shared a joke with you. Here you go:
What do you call fake spaghetti?
…an im-pasta.
You’re welcome.
Hope you’re okay.
-Ruby
From: [email protected]
Date: November 10, 2008 12:25 a.m.
To: [email protected]
Subject: I’m Sorry
Aaron,
I hope you’ll forgive me for not telling you the truth, but I can’t keep going with it. I feel so bad. I can’t handle the lies anymore.
I don’t have a boyfriend. I’ve never had a boyfriend. I made him up when we first started messaging each other because I was paranoid after the incident with the “tick lick” guy. Now that I’ve gotten to know you and like you, I know you aren’t anything like him. I’m sorry for not being upfront with you to begin with, but I hope you understand why I did it.
The repentant liar,
Ruby
From: [email protected]
Date: November 12, 2008 12:07 p.m.
To: [email protected]
Subject: RE: I’m sorry
I’ll write back everything else later, but I wanted to write you back about your fake boyfriend first.
I’m not pissed you did it. I get it. I thought something was up with how vague you were being talking about him. Most girls always bring up their boyfriend unless they’re… trying to get with someone else on the side. It’s no big deal if that’s the only thing you haven’t been honest about, but I’d be surprised if there was something else. You don’t seem like that kind of person.
But that is the only thing you’ve lied to me about, yeah?
I saw there had been a hurricane heading toward Texas a few days ago. You make it through all right?
-Aaron
From: [email protected]
Date: November 12, 2008 4:05 a.m.
To: [email protected]
Subject: So Sorry
Aaron,
I cross my heart that’s all I’ve lied to you about. I just couldn’t keep going with it.
I’m sorry. I’ve been making myself sick worrying about lying to you.
-Ruby
P.S. The worst of the hurricane didn’t hit us. We only got a little rain. The hurricane last year was the one that was a pain. That’s nice of you to ask.
From: [email protected]
Date: November 14, 2008 1:32 p.m.
To: [email protected]
Subject: RE: So Sorry
Ruby,
It’s all good. I get it. It isn’t like you told me anything else except you having a boyfriend and not living with him. :]
-Aaron
From: [email protected]
Date: November 14, 2008 2:05 a.m.
To: [email protected]
Subject: I’m Sorry Part 2
Aaron,
I thought of something else I didn’t tell you about. I still live with my mom and #4. That’s it. Everyone knows I do, it isn’t like I try to hide it, but I feel like a fraud not actually telling you that. Looking back on it, I never made it seem like I lived anywhere else but….
-Ruby
From: [email protected]
Date: November 16, 2008 1:37 p.m.
To: [email protected]
Subject: RE: I’m Sorry Part 2
Ruby,
That’s not you lying. What’s wrong with living with your parents?
-Aaron
From: [email protected]
Date: November 17, 2008 1:02 a.m.
To: [email protected]
Subject: So Sorry
I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it, but I know people who have told me it’s been time to move out since I was eighteen. But the rent is cheap (I pay the electricity and water bill), and I have my own room and another room I can work in. Plus, my mom still cooks dinner most nights. She doesn’t care I still live at home. I think she prefers it. I promise that’s all I haven’t been upfront about.
-Ruby
From: [email protected]
Date: November 19, 2008 2:42 p.m.
To: [email protected]
Subject: RE: I’m sorry
Ruby,
Time for you to move out? Why? I’d still live at home if it wouldn’t drive me crazy. Don’t listen to anybody else if you’re happy and like living there.
-Aaron
From: [email protected]
Date: November 20, 2008 3:05 a.m.
To: [email protected]
Subject: So Sorry
You’re right. My older brothers and my sister had all moved out by the time they were 18. My oldest brother and sister went to college in Austin, and Jonathan joined the marines. I decided to go to school here in Houston, so I never left. They’re all successful, and I know I shouldn’t compare myself to them, but I do, even knowing it’s dumb to do that. They all tell me I’d be an idiot to move out. I’m happy. For the most part. Usually. I don’t want it to seem like I’m complaining.