I woke up to an uncomfortable silence.  It felt too quiet without the hum of the a/c or refrigerator.  The absence of modern noise emphasized the chirp of the crickets that managed somehow to survive the storm.  I felt so alone like the last man on earth kind of feel.  Now conscious everything came back to me.  I searched the bed sheets for my phone and then remembered I lost it yesterday.  Holly came into the room looking pitiful.  Poor thing was all matted and dirty and smelled of wet dog.  I went to the kitchen to feed her and myself and then gave her a bath.   It wasn't easy cause the water was cold and I still had no power.  

That night I went on a walk with Holly to try and clear my head.  I went back to the place where I fell and actually found my phone in the mud. Much good that does me.  The neighborhood was quiet but there were people hanging out with friends outside having bar-b-ques before their food goes bad.  A few even offered me food as I strolled by sniffing the air.  It's funny how friendly people get when their regular lives are put on hold.  When I got back home, my neighbor and friend, Jimin was smoking outside and offered me a cigarette.  

"You know I don't smoke", I said, but he gave it to me anyway.  

"How's it going buddy?" He asked staring at my sad face.

"Do you have a signal on your phone?" I asked hoping for the best.  

"No," he said shrugging.

"I hope this gets cleared up quickly. I need to call my girlfriend and my parents to tell them I'm ok. I hope they're not worried."

"Yeah, me too."

"And I need I new phone. I dropped mine in the mud."

"Shit."

"That's not all.  Her ex is posting pictures of them together.  I don't know what's going on and I'm worried."  

"Well, there's nothing you can do right now.  Let's  have some beer."

Yoongi and Jimin had been friends for a long time.  When Yoongi had come to the United States to study, Jimin was the first friend he made.  Yoongi had been a quiet and solitary boy spending most of his time studying and trying to improve his English.  Jimin had been assigned as his tutor for English by his language teacher.  

Their friendship had blossomed from there as they shared their memories from home and their mutual loneliness.  Both Yoongi and Jimin had been sent to the fancy boarding school by their well off parents in Seoul.  Even now they lived next to each other and shared their most intimate thoughts.  

Yoongi's thoughts now went to the sweet girl he met on summer vacation.  Jimin on the other hand was a bit jealous that Yoongi had spent most of his time with said girl during their break.  He recognized that his friend finally felt loved and he didn't want to bring it up.  Jimin knew that it was really hard on Yoongi to watch Holly go.  He had been there for his friend for all the lonely days after she left.  Thankfully It seemed she felt the same way about him.  It was really unfortunate that someone was trying to come between them even though they were already separated by a great distance.  

Tonight Yoongi was even more preoccupied than usual.  He didn't want to be a burden to Jimin always talking about how much he missed Holly's sweet kisses and her warmth and playfulness.  She had changed Yoongi from a person that just thought about studying and making his parents proud to someone that actually looked forward to his future.  He made plans in his head of all the things they would do together and all the nights they would spend in each other's arms.  That brought a little smile to his face but the frustration of not being able to talk to her or see her face on his phone made him restless.  

"Jimin," he said.  "Want to go with me to Boston to see Holly?"

"What so I can be the third wheel? No thanks!"

"Her friends will be there.  You liked that girl Lisa." He said expectantly.

"Yeah, so I can be miserably happy like you? No thanks again!"

"Come on it will be fun. We can bring Holly to meet Holly."

Jimin giggled. "Have you told your parents about Holly or do they think you are in love with your dog?"

"They know. I sent them pictures of us and they were pleased that she's Korean."

"I'm surprised you told them.  You don't really share much about your personal life with them."

"I know, but this is important to me. I need them to accept her so they need to know how I feel."

"Okay Yoongi, your my best friend so I will do this for you.  I don't know if it's the beers talking but you've always been there for me and I appreciate you.  Remember this when it's time to pick a best man."

"Don't worry Jimin. That was always my intention. Jimin-ah I love you."