Page 32 of Collin: Episodes 1-3
Mr. Reevesworth nodded. “I’m afraid I can’t give you privacy.”
Collin waved him off and put the phone to his ear. “Hey, Mom.”
“Hey, Collin. I’ve been worried. You didn’t call Sunday.”
“Oh, I’m sorry, Mom, I was working. It’s been very busy.”
“Are you working now?”
“Yes.”
She was quiet for a moment before speaking more softly. “Are you alone, Collin?”
“No.”
“Could you find some privacy?”
“Um…not really. I’m in a car.”
“I see.”
“Is everything all right? Anything happen this weekend?”
“Alice said you were a bit stressed.”
“You know how school is, Mom. With jobs. Aren’t we all? It’s nothing to worry about, I promise.”
“Nothing out of the ordinary?”
“Nothing, Mom. I’m fine. I promise. Maybe a bit of a roommate mess. But I’ve figured it out.”
“Well, I’ll be looking for your next call.”
“Of course. I’ll try to remember to keep my phone charged. Don’t freak out if it’s dead. I’m planning to get a new one soon.”
“I never freak out, darling. I take direct and concise action.”
Collin laughed, then stifled it as his head throbbed. “Yeah, you do. Love you, I got to get back to work.” He pressed a palm to his forehead.
“I love you, son. Talk to you soon.”
Mr. Reevesworth took the phone, turned it off, then returned it. Collin pressed both palms to his forehead. The motion of the car was doing nothing for his stomach or his headache.
He pressed his fingernails into his thigh. It wasn’t enough. Sliding his phone under his thigh, he crossed his arms and slid his right hand up the sleeve of his left shirt. Pressing his nails in his skin, he dragged his hand down to his wrist.
A sharp burn suffused his arm. The pain traveled up his limb and into his face. Collin closed his eyes behind his sunglasses and focused on the burn. He needed more. He checked; Mr. Reevesworth was looking out the window.
Collin moved his hand farther up his sleeve. It was hard to get the level of pain he needed going so slowly, but it could be done. He’d done this often enough. He sank his nails into his skin just below the elbow and dragged them down, scoring his skin as deep as he could.
Relief flowed through his shoulders. Nausea receded. He closed his eyes and leaned into the sharp, clean pain.
The movers were already parked outside the apartment building or as close to it as they could. Mr. Reevesworth’s driver dropped them off at the door. Mr. Reevesworth held out his hand with Collin’s keys. Another thing Collin had forgotten about.
“Are you coming up, sir?”
“Of course, unless you would rather I not.”
This was the man he was planning to give access to his body. Did it matter if he saw how Collin had been living?
