One Phone Call

Hello? Mom?

It was the first time she’d heard his voice in almost a year. Her oldest. Her only son. There were no sufficient words to describe how the sound of it made her feel after so long.

Chris?

Just a tentative whisper, full of hope, but also fear that this wasn’t real.

Static broke up his reply. Only bits and pieces came through.

Yeah. Sorry. Help.

Her brow furrowed and her heart fluttered. She sat down on the rickety barstool next to the island in her tiny kitchen. The whole place was tiny, really. It was the best she could afford after everything fell apart last year. It was a house, at least. Not an apartment.

Are you okay? Where have you been? Where are you now? Are you in some kind of trouble?

That old, familiar sinking feeling sparked in the pit of her stomach. Wasn’t he always in trouble? Didn’t he always need help? Isn’t that how she got where she was right now? How he got where he was? Tough love had never been her strong suit.

Mom. Cant. Sorry. So sorry. Please.

Chris?

Static hacked away at his words, but enough came through to stir her old friend, panic. She stood up as if she intended to go to him. To find him. Help him. But where would she start? Where did she think she would go? He’d been a ghost. Even the number he called on said “Unknown”.

Love you. Never meant.

The connection dropped. She stared down at her phone, hesitating before hitting redial.

Why wait to buy extended coverage for your vehicle? Act now!

She laughed. A dry, brittle, empty sound. Absurd.

At least she heard his voice and knew he was out there. Somewhere. For now, it was enough.

Word Count: 298