My Joker Origin Story

Eventually, our call drifts into silence.

Theo stops talking. I stop replying. The last thing I hear is Rainbow sneezing again and Theo's small chuckle before I lose myself to the weight in my chest and the warmth in his voice.

I fall asleep. And in the morning, I curse myself for it.

Because I wanted more time with him. I wanted to stay in that soft, strange space between wakefulness and dreaming, just listening to his breath, maybe telling him a story or asking if he remembers the time we—

I sigh. Never mind.

I reach for my phone, still tangled in the blanket. The screen doesn't light up. I press the button again, longer this time. Nothing. Dead.

Of course. The battery was already low when I texted him. I must've fallen asleep mid-call. He probably hung up when he realized. Or maybe he didn't. Maybe he stayed on the line until it cut. Somehow, the idea that he might've stayed lingers in my chest like an aftertaste.