Page 172 of Rome: The Ballerina

Mellow.

Your ph…

Your phone…

The words never escaped me. Exhaustion lured me into an even deeper sleep, completely ignoring the vibrating cell lost between the sheets of the bed.

Bzzzt.

Bzzzt.

Bzzzt.

Bzzzt.

Stirring awake, I felt around in the bed, aimlessly searching for the vibrating phone to silence it completely. Rome’s lightsnores were evidence that my baby was tired and possibly experiencing the best sleep of her life. Waking her up simply wasn’t in my plans.

Bzzzt.

Bzzzt.

“Alright, shit,” I whispered.

Finally, I located the device. I silenced it, but it began vibrating in my hand almost immediately. As I pressed the side of the phone to disable it completely, I noticed the familiar texture of the case surrounding it. I released the buttons and watched the screen light up in my hand.

Mom.

I answered the call. My mother’s voice awakened me, confirming it was my phone ringing. Not Rome’s.

“Sac!” She whimpered, startling me.

I rubbed the sleep from my eyes.

“Mom, everything good?” I whispered.

“Yes. We’re all fine bu– but–”

“But… but what?”

She paused, gathering herself.

“Mom– what’s the matter?”

“Aliza was found dead in her home,” my mother sniffled.

I sat upright in bed. The pain in my chest wouldn’t allow me to keep resting. I was fully alert now. Fully awake.

“Come again–”

“Ali–Aliza. She committed suicide,” my mother broke down, unable to keep it together.

“Wha– when? How?”

I bolted from bed with absolutely nowhere to go. However, I didn’t want to disturb Rome’s sleep. I stepped out into the hallway and began pacing as my mother explained.

“It’s been a week or so since I talked to her mother. It felt strange, you know. We talk two or three times a week. Alwayshave. After a full week, I started calling her. I didn’t get an answer. I called Neil’s phone and didn’t get an answer either. So, I told your father that we’d go by there if I don’t hear from her in the next few days.”

“Um hm.” I urged her to continue.

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