"Hey," she says.

"Hey." Our voices sound hollow. We haven't spoken much in weeks.

"So..." I say.

"I dunno. I guess I'm just kind of bored," she says.

"Are you ok, Esther?"

"I'm...fine." Her voice is all wrong. I wonder if she's holding back tears.

"Are you sure?" I ask.

"I dunno. What did you think of the chem test?"

The change of subject is abrupt, but it's a relief.

"It was ok. I couldn't remember all of the polyatomic ions," I say.

"I thought it was ok, too."

"Is there any reason you called?" I ask.

"I guess not..." she says.

Something's wrong.

"Ok. You've just seemed off lately," I say.

"I'm fine!" she says a little too quickly.

"I'm gonna go now," she says.

"Um, ok?" I say.

Silence.

"Well...bye," I say. "See you tomorrow."

"Tomorrow...right," she says.

And Esther is gone.