I haven’t cried yet. Because it doesn’t feel real. I’m worried the day I cry; is the day it becomes real. That he won’t come back. That this whole thing wasn’t some sick joke. And yet, deep down, I feel that I’m crying. Deep down, I know. Yet, I still cannot cry.

But the ache is still there.

I read somewhere, that when you worry, you die twice. And I try not worry.

I try not to worry when the family birthday dinner turns into an unintentional funeral. I try not to worry when my step mum falls asleep, slumped over the computer, the blaring screen imprinted with dozens of missing articles. I try not to worry when every conversation reverts to the same questions, over and over, never-ending. Yet,

I worry.

That the 250 days will turn into 300. Then into 500. And then…

Nothing. They’ll turn into nothing. A blur. A memory. A forgotten counter, stacking up the days until the inevitable truth.

But for now, it’s 250 days. And tomorrow will be 251. And the next 252. And I will keep counting. Even though, I don’t know when I should stop.

when to stop counting