Page 72 of Where We Found Our Home
Sasha doesn’t respond, but Nina responds right away.
Nina: I knew it!
Nina: Lol love you too girl. You okay?
No.
Me: I will be
I see Nina is typing another message, but I exit out of the conversation and call my mom.
“Hi, sweetie.”
“Hi, Mom.” I choke on the last word but I hope she doesn’t notice.
“What’s going on?”
“Nothing, Mom, I just wanted to call and say hi and I love you.”
“I love you more. How’s everything? How’s Lincoln?”
I clear my throat, but my mouth is dry and I feel like I’m swallowing rocks.
“He’s fine.”
She’s quiet for a moment. “That sounds like bullshit.” I let out what I hope is a convincing laugh.
“Really, he’s fine. We’re fine. Everyone’s fine. I’m just really tired and needed to hear your voice.”
“You know, I really am so proud of you. I don’t know if I tell you that enough.”
I am hanging on by a fucking thread. I can’t get into this with her right now. “You tell me all the time, Mom.”
“But do you hear me and receive what I’m saying?”
Fuck. Me. “I hear you.”
“You are so strong, baby. Oh hey, Brittany is calling me.”
Fuck.She’s calling to tell her what I said.
“Okay, well, I have to go anyway. Tell her I said hi. I love you, Mom. Thank you for all you’ve done for me.”
“Umm, okay, baby. I love you more. I’ll call you back soon?”
“Sure.” I hang up and block her number too.Fuck,I’m now on the run from my mom too, because when she realizes I didn’t tell her what was going on AND that I blocked her number, there will be hell to pay. Look at me finding the bright side to running. I can almost smile about it. I roll my eyes at my own blatant lie and go back to packing.
My phone rings, and it’s Lincoln. I almost don’t answer, but I owe him this.
“Hi.”
“Hi, Angel. I gave us the night to feel all of our emotions, but we need to really talk about this now.” I love this man more than I ever thought possible. He listens to me. He doesn’t dismiss how I’m feeling. I know he would do anything for me. This is just not something I’m comfortable asking him to do.
“Yeah. Listen, Linc. You of all people should understand my need to make sacrifices for the greater good.”
“Ciara,” he says on a sigh. “I do understand that. But do you honestly think this is for the greater good? Do you think the world would be better off without you in it? Because I’ll tell you it won’t. Your light shines brighter than all the stars in the sky. I can guarantee that my life, my family’s lives, are infinitely better because you’re in it. Do you know why I call you Angel?”
No, and I have a feeling I don’t want to hear it because it may break me.
