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“You’re going to be okay, Heart,” said Monica.
“Maybe,” I said. “I have to make a call.”
Monica looked at me, confused.
“Daniel?” she asked.
I shook my head. “My parents.”
I was sure that response shocked her more than if I would have said Daniel.
I hadn’t spoken to my parents in years. Our relationship hadn’t always been the best. I always felt like I wasn’t good enough for them. I felt like I wasn’t doing enough. Every little thing I did seemed to disappoint them. I didn’t know what made them have such high standards for me, but it was exhausting.
Things really went south when I got a job at the nonprofit. They didn’t understand why I took a job that paid so little. When I explained to them that it wasn’t about the money, and it was about helping others, they scoffed. They told me I would regret it.
It was then that I felt empowered enough to put distance between us. I was an adult and capable of making my own decisions. I no longer needed their support or their roof over my head. I was free.
Gradually, the void between us grew. I began skipping trips home for the holidays, and eventually stopped visiting at all. The calls stopped too, on my end and theirs.
As I pulled my phone from the back pocket of my jeans, Monica stood and quietly excused herself to the living room to give me privacy. As if there could be privacy in my apartment.
I inhaled a shaky breath as I scrolled through my contacts and found the number to my parents’ house. I pressed the greensendbutton and closed my eyes as the rings trilled.
“Hello?” I heard my mother answer.
I held my breath and struggled to speak.
“Hello?” she asked again.
“Mom?” I asked softly.
I paused.
“Addison? Is that you?”
I heard the quiet disbelief in her voice.
“Yeah, it’s me.”
“Wow. Um, how are you? Wait. Wait. Let me get your dad on the line.”
“Oh, you don’t have to—”
I heard her hand cover the receiver and muffled words. She was probably coaxing my dad out of his recliner in the living room where he sat and watched the news all day. I could see it now. It almost made me miss them. Almost.
I heard the click of another phone pick up.
“Addison?” my dad asked, just as disbelieving as my mom.
“Hey, Dad.”
“This is a surprise.”
“Yeah…listen. I have some news.”
I just wanted to cut right to it. We were never very good at small talk anyway.
“Okay…” my mom said hesitantly.