Page 39 of Reclaim

“Um, maybe we can put earphones in and stay on the phone?” I suggest.

“You know it’s hard to talk and run, right?”

“So, you don’t want to run together?”

“I didn’t say that. I was just stating it might be difficult, but I definitely did not say no.”

“Okay, I’m going to get dressed.” I pull back the phone and look at the time. “I’ll be ready in fifteen minutes.”

“I’ll be waiting.”

Yanking out every item of clothes I own, I dig deep for the Lorna Jane activewear Taylah and I bought at the beginning of this year under the pretense of getting fit as one of our new year resolutions. Still there in the bag is the black and blue, mesh-panelled tights, three different coloured tanks, and a phone holder that straps around your arm with velcro.Perfect.Measuring each item against myself to see if it still fits, I look at my reflection and shake my head.It’s not like he’s going to see what you’re wearing Emerson.

Quickly dressing myself, I find my earphones, grab a bottle of water from the fridge, and I’m ready to go. I jog down the fire escape stairs instead of taking the elevator, preparing my body for the shock I’m about to throw its way.

Putting my wireless earbuds in, I strap my phone to my arm and press call.

“You sure you want to do this?” he asks as soon as he answers.

“It’s never too late to get fit, right?”

“If you say so. I usually run for an hour. If you need to slow down or don’t want to keep going, just stop. I’ll still be here on the phone, okay?”

“Got it.”

The silence ensues between us, but it’s comfortable. I can hear his pace pick up as his feet hit the pavement.

“You do this everyday?” I ask.

“Yep.” His short, clipped answer makes me second guess my decision to push myself on his morning routine.

“Don’t feel like you need to talk while you run. I don’t mind staying on the phone in silence or hanging up.”

“Talking doesn’t come as easy as everyone thinks.” His breaths are deeper and longer between every word. “And sometimes that little voice in your head makes you think you don’t have anything worth saying.”

“I could probably name a few people that would hang off every single word you say.”

“Somedays, that’s all that matters.”

My jog turns to running and I feel the burn with every stride, I’m not sure why people do this to themselves.

“I’m sorry you left dinner early the other night,” he says.

“Oh, no. It was probably about time anyway.” The sun begins to rise, and I observe the rest of the world wake up as I maneuver through my surroundings. “Taylah and I, we’re about to kill each other anyway.”

“Taylah? She was who you were with?”

“Yes. She’s my best friend. We met when we both started at Legal Aid,” I explain. “I’d met up with my parents before and was in dire need of a drink and some dessert.”

“You don’t get along?”

“We, do. But I’m an only child, and talking about yourself gets really exhausting.” There’s less apprehension on his end the more I say. I take note and remember to occasionally take the focus off him throughout our exchange.

He chuckles, “Can’t say I ever had that issue. My mum only ever talked to me when she was pissed off, so I tried to stay away.”

“How about now? Is she glad you’re out?” My questions are borderline invasive, but I’m all in now, and if I don’t have his facial expressions to deter me, I’m going to use it to my advantage.

“I wouldn’t know. She isn’t one of people I’ve wanted to catch up with.”

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