Page 43 of The Ground Beneath Our Feet
I called my mom the next day.
“Mija. How are you?”
“Good. I’m really good. I love my job. I’m helping people with housing, and it’s so rewarding.”
“That’s nice,” she said absently. “Brooks got a new cell phone.”
God.
This was always how she was. She was there, but she wasn’t.
Lost in her own world, unable to meet my needs.
I’d needed to hear her voice, to tell her what I’d learned. But actually calling her? I wasn’t feeling the way I thought I’d feel. I’d changed, but she hadn’t changed at all.
That made my heart hurt.
At least my brothers were taking care of her. I didn’t have to worry about her.
After talking with her for a few more minutes, I hung up, got a drink of water, and went back to my desk.
My phone pinged.How’s work going?
Instead of a call from my mom, it was Mikey. He’d sent me a selfie of him holding a puppy, and then another selfie of him smiling broadly, those baby fat cheeks reaching his ears.
That’s the way to cheer a girl up at work.
He always made me smile.
My work made me smile, too. I loved the research and the writing. I loved meeting with the clients, who were passionate about making low income housing for people.
It’s good, I texted.Are you having a good day?
Yeah baby. Did you go walk around the block at lunch?
I did. And I ate a salad, too.
Good girl.
Another picture came in. Mikey wearing green scrubs, his tattoos peeking out. He held a stethoscope up to an iguana.
It was so freaking cute.
Jesus, hottest veterinarian ever. But there was more to my roommate than a hot body. He had the cadence of someone who lived life fully in the moment, and who was helping me to do the same.
For two weeks now, I’d followed his meal plans and done the exercise. I also had another massage—a necessity, given how sore I’d be otherwise.
I was getting used to being touched.
I was getting used to my body.
What are we gonna do today?
Walk Elvis.
That’s about my speed.
He’s not too fast, but he’ll pull you along. Watch out.
