Page 64 of It's Always Sonny

After a breakdown, I’ve always felt like I was hollowed out and exposed, a dying animal waiting for scavengers to pick me clean.

This time, I feel raw and vulnerable, but I don’t feel empty.

In fact, I feel kind of full. And … and glowy.

Huh.

The buzz of a text grabs my attention.

SONNY: The family just finished lunch. My bros are going back to put their kids down for naps, but then we’re on to pickleball before meeting up with the others at cornhole.

PARKER: Rewind. “The family?” Isn’t that mob speak? Are you guys a mob? Wait, is Nonna the Don? Donna? Donna Nonna?!

SONNY: Snitches get stitches.

PARKER: Noted.

SONNY: *My* family (not *the* family) is a little eager to make sure you’re okay.

SONNY: Are you okay?

PARKER: I’m fine.

SONNY: Got it. Sorry to pester you about it.

PARKER: No, I mean that literally. I feel fine. Good, even. Is that weird?

SONNY: I always feel better after a good cry.

PARKER: Pfft. Your spirit is too indomitable. You’d probably “feel better” after a colonoscopy.

SONNY: Whoa there, tiger.

PARKER: …I, on the other hand, feel better shoe shopping while I eat Cadbury Mini Eggs that I’ve hoarded in the freezer for the last year.

SONNY: You always did love your Mini Eggs.

Déjà vu rocks me for a second. I scroll past our current conversation and into the annals of our recorded history.

Yes, I kept his texts.

No, I don’t want to hear about it.

I scroll and scroll to the point of futility. Then I use the search function, and a moment later, I find the last time we talked about Mini Eggs.

SONNY: did u find ur gift yet

PARKER: I’ll find my gift when you find your grammar textbook.

SONNY: lol

PARKER: I’m too busy to respond. I found this huge stash of Mini Eggs in the freezer with a bow on them. What kind of sucker wraps their Mini Eggs up and hides them in the freezer? They’re mine now!

SONNY: stop

SONNY: u know thats from me

PARKER: ;)

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