“Oh, dang. I don’t think I’ve met a sleepwalker before, but it sounds like you’ve had to navigate through your own challenges too.”
“We all do. I have to lock up snack cabinets and sharp objects. I’ve also had to hide my car keys.” He swallows hard. “I’m probably going on too much about it now.”
“It’s okay. I don’t mind.” Aside from him having a nice soothing voice, hearing about his struggles helps me feel more seen for mine. He understands what it’s like to have something unexpectedly alter his whole life.
“I’m sure you don’t, and I’m also sure you’d like to find your shoes in less than an hour. I’m supposed to be speeding up the process, not delaying it more. So, tell me what these walking shoes or outside shoes look like.”
“They’re for me to sit outside, and it’s been pretty cold lately. Sometimes icy and wet.” I navigate back to where I’m supposed to be going with all this. “They’re navy, with one white stripe going across and pink laces with strawberries on them.”
“Sounds easy enough. Point me there and we’ll get those shoes on your feet.”
A laugh slips past my lips, and I lower the phone to the shoe rack, leaning down a little. “They should be somewhere on the right side. I had Travis keep all his on the left.”
“I see them,” he says confidently. “They’re the last pair on the left. Looks like your boyfriend, or whoever put your shoes back, moved them to the wrong side.”
“Yeah. Travis is often in a rush, but it’s probably my fault for asking so much of him all the time.”
“This is a new life change for you, and the people in your life should be there to help you navigate through it.”
“My best friend is great and so is my sister. One lives over an hour away, though, and the other works a lot.”
A knock at my door has me freezing as I’m reaching down to feel for the last pair. Shoulders lifting, I grab my shoes and toss them on the ground, facing where the second knock is now coming from. “Coming.”
“Got company?”
“It would seem. Thanks so much for your help.” I feel for my shoes with my feet, eventually shoving each one in. Loosening the laces beforehand definitely helped. Thank you, past Henry.
“No problem. You know where to find me if you need me again.”
“I do,” I say promptly, closing the closet door.
“Enjoy the rest of your day.”
“You too.” The video chat ends, and I slide my phone into my pocket, sticking an arm out to slide my hand along the wall leading to the front door. I pull the door open after my hand lands on the knob on the first try, and there’s a burst of pink coming from the porch. It’s one of the colors I can make out the best. The brighter the better.
“Hey, you semi match today,” a high-pitched voice I’d recognize anywhere says.
“Only semi, huh?” I stand to the side to let my best friend Janie in, and her arm brushes over mine as she enters the house.
“I call it progress.” Her voice is teasing and she squeezes my shoulder. “Were you on the phone with someone or something?”
“I swear that front door is paper thin.”
She laughs. “You’re also a loud as fuck talker.”
I roll my eyes. “If you must know, I was using the Be My Eyes app to find my hoodie and shoes.”
“Oh, how’d it go?”
“Pretty good. The guy was really nice.”
“Did he sound cute?”
“Is that a thing?”
“It sure is. Haven’t you listened to those deep, honey-like voices in audiobooks before?”
“You’re ridiculous,” I quip. I know exactly what she means, but refuse to acknowledge it, because he had such a confidence in his voice that made him attractive all on its own.
