"Hey."

"Hello?"

His voice put a boulder in her throat. Everything meticulously calculated, all the prepared lines of hurtful and honest truth, stuck.

"Meghan?" Damn caller ID.

"Hey."

"Hey! What are you up to? Everything ok?" Not really, how can you act so happy?! His nonchalance infuriated her.

"I'm fine...wondering why haven't heard from you."

"O yea, about that, life's really busy. What with my sister, the Arkansas house, plus this whole thing with Jane and I. Still can't seem to sell the house."

"Hmm, yea." Was all she could say. Shouldn't she matter just as much to him? Did he or did he not want a real relationship with her? Sharing blood and a name didn't make him her father. Apparently his existance made him feel entitled. Entitled to be a distant ass.

Silence reigned.

"Will we see you soon?"

"Don't know, funds are low."

"Yea, it's tough all around." I bet. Those iPads must have really put you in a grind.

The silence deafened.

"Well, don't want to hold you up, sure you're a very busy young lady." Nope, not really, but thanks for asking.

"Yea, sure."

"Always nice talking to you Meghan. I know I need to call more, I'm working on it." Sure, you've been working on it for nine years, and weren't even trying the 17 before that.

"That's cool. Tell everyone I said 'Hey' "

"Will do, take care of yourself."

She started to say 'You too,' but was cut off by the dial tone.

She sighed wearily and gazed out at the sun, mocking with its' cheerfulness. That didn't exactly go to plan. Ignoring the tears yearning to trail down her cheeks she replaced her ear buds. Blasting rock music encouraged her to run away, figuratively and literally, to where she didn't know.

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Word count: 299 Words