I exhale and lean my hip against the counter.
Unfortunately
How are you?
Fine, I guess. My face still looks like I lost a fight with a brick wall.
It lookedbad yesterday.
Wow. Thanks for the compliment
There’s a pause. Longer this time. I’m halfway to setting my phone down when it buzzes again.
What’s your favorite way to spend a day off?
Alone
Not out with friends?
I like quiet
Noted.
I’m debating on how to respond when my phone buzzes with an incoming call.
It’s Josh.
My stomach flips and I silence it immediately, waiting until it goes to voicemail. A text from him comes through seconds later.
Can we talk? I miss you.
I clear the notification without responding and go back to Echo’s message. I’m not ready to open that can of worms back up. Not tonight. Maybe not ever.
Echo’s next text comes through.
What did you want to be when you grew up?
I blink.That’s… oddly specific.
My thumbs hover.
I should just lie. It’s what I usually do when anyone asks something real. But maybe the truth is better. Maybe the ugliness of it will get him to see he doesn’t want someone like me in his life.
I wanted to be a mom.
A pause.
Do you still want that?
I swallow.
It’s not really in the cards for me anymore.
Three dots. Gone, then back.
Sorry.
Wow. You should write sympathy cards.
