Texting a Ghost

I texted my best friend all day. We talked about everything. Normal conversations.

Nothing seemed weird at all. Then my phone rang. It was his mom calling me.

"We've been looking everywhere for him. He's been missing for three days now. Have you seen him?"

My blood went cold. Three days? But I've been texting him all morning. All afternoon.

Just hours ago. I looked at my phone screen. The messages were still there.

Sitting in our chat. But then I realized something. He never actually replied to anything.

Not once. I was just sending messages into nothing. I called him again. And again.

No answer. No response. Then the truth hit me like ice water. Every single message