Page 10 of Phoenix

“Hello?” I say, sipping my wine.

“Good. I was hoping to catch you before you went to bed,” my best friend chirps through the phone.

“You’re way too chipper for this early in the morning,” I say, groaning.

“It’s nearly noon here, Nor. Time zones are a thing.” She giggles.

“I sometimes forget you’re so far away. I’m not a fan,” I admit.

“Then move here. You know you waaaant to,” she says in a singsong voice.

“You know I would if—”

She cuts me off, “If you could, but Marco and work keep you put.”

“Exactly.”

“Anyway, I was calling because I wanted to let you know I finally heard back from Candace at BubblyMagazine...” She stalls.

“And? What did she say?”

“She said she wants to pass along my blog to her boss and if he approves, they may want to meet me in person!” I can feel her excitement through the phone.

“No way! Amelia! That’s amazing!”

“I’m trying not to get too excited yet, but to have a weekly feature on their website would be absolutely incredible.”

“You’ll knock their socks off. I know you will.”

“Enough about me though, how are you? How was your shift?” she asks. My best friend always wants to check in and make sure I’m all right.

I sigh heavily and just say it, “We had a burn victim.” I don’t elaborate for a few reasons: patient privacy and I don’t have to elaborate. She’ll understand.

“Shit, Nor. Are you all right? Were you directly involved?”

“I was. I was assigned to him.”

“I’m so sorry you had to see that. I know how hard it is for you.”

I sink lower into the tub, even though the water is cold, letting it touch my chin.

“It wasn’t easy. I had to turn off my emotions and just work, basically, but the smell... Amelia, God, the smell. It brought everything rushing back like it happened yesterday.” My stomach is recoiling now just thinking about it.

“There are some times that are easier than others, right? Bad times will happen, you just have to know you can and will get through them.”

“You always have such motherly advice. Thank you, Amelia. Seriously. For just listening to me and checking in.”

“Always, babe. Well, I’m going to eat lunch with Cadence at school today; I’m going to let you go so I can run inside. I’m sitting in the parking lot like a freak. Call me if you need anything, okay?” she says.

“I will, and tell her I said hello.”

“Will do. Love you, Nor.”

“I love you, too.”

I wait until the phone beeps, signaling the call has ended, and then I sink below the surface of the water, letting the silence calm me and take me away, even if just for a few moments.

Water is my solace. My sanity and my peace.

---