Page 57 of Curtain Call
P.S. I miss your touch.
A tear drips onto the paper before Riley rips it out of his journal, folds the sheet into a small square, and tucks the letter into his pant pocket. This letter carries the weight of a small elephant, and Riley’s shoulders relax for the first time in a long time.
Scene 5
January 19th
Riley
Riley: “I only have a few minutes, but I wanted to hear your voice.”
Mac: “Oh my GOD!”
Mac is literally yelling on the other end of the line. Her voice raises an octave while Riley holds the receiver away from his ear by a foot.
Mac: “How are you feeling? What’s been
going on? Are you getting better? What’s it like in there? When do you get to come home?
The stream of questions fly over the line. Riley just smiles at the receiver that’s attached to the wall by a short cord wrapped around his fingers that already had several kinks in the line. His fingers are turning white. He wasn’t used to having a tether while he talked on the phone. He could only imagine others using the same cord as a fidget while they nervously talked to their loved ones too. He slowly unwraps the cord while watching the color come back into his digits.
Riley: “Slow down, Mac. Breathe.”
Mac: “You said you only have a few minutes, and I want to know everything.”
Riley: “I’m doing my program and making progress. I have my good days and not-so-good days, but overall, I’m doing well.”
Mac: “I’m so glad to hear it, and I’ll let Jax know I heard from you.”
Riley: “How’s that going?”
Mac: “I haven’t scared them off yet,” she teases. “And I know they are worried about you.”
Riley: “Give Jax my love and tell them I’ll be around soon enough.”
Mac: “And,” she doesn’t finish the thought.
Riley: “Oh,” changing the subject, “I can start having visitors next week.”
Mac: “Really?”
Riley: “Would you be interested in a road trip to the Cape? I could use one of your hugs.”
Mac: “Tell me when.”
Riley: “Saturday?”
Mac: “Whatever’s on my schedule will be canceled.”
Riley: “You’re the best, Mac.”
Mac: “Don’t ever forget it.”
They sit quietly for a minute before Mac breaks the silence.
Mac: “Would you like me to invite anyone else along?”
Riley: “Can it just be the two of us? At least for now? I can’t facehimyet.”
