Sometimes, I wonder if God made our desires with malicious intent, because the more we want something, the harder it gets.

Two years ago, I lost my best friend. We had fought over something stupid, but before we could make up, she moved away. I wanted to call her but couldn’t muster the courage. Does Natsuko even want to hear from me? That question echoed as I stared at the phone. Half an hour passed, my mood shifting from fear to gloom, just like the dark green color of the wallpaper before me.

“If you aren’t going to use the phone, I need it!” Mom called from the kitchen.

“Just a bit longer, please,” I yelled back.

“Ten minutes!”

Even ten years wouldn’t be enough. I sighed. Talking to my friend shouldn’t be this hard.

Besides, it’s Christmas. It gives you an excuse to call someone you haven’t talked to in so long. With courage as blind as a bat, I lifted the handset and dialed. And as I waited, my heartbeat grew louder than the ringing.