Page 9 (1/2)

“I knew you would,” he says

His voice is a lifeline No words are needed A hush falls over the phone The tension slowly fades away, and I find a sense of peace There’s so the experience with the person as there when it all went down

“Do you feel better?” he asks

“Yeah, actually I do I think I can sleep now You?”

“Same,” he says

“Talk to you later on today?”

“Yeah I’d like that” The smile is audible

I disconnect feeling better for a reason I can’t explain and don’t want to exasleep won’t be co, and walk into the kitchen My hair is curled up around e to shower I fill a black cast iron kettle, set it on as burner

The familiar actions continue to help me decompress I pull out ing ‘I sole I scoop two tablespoons full of raw sugar inside and wait for thethen my spine, and repeat

I took up yoga years ago to ht muscles in hts I could never shut off the flow of iested I try yoga when I stue coffee and heavy concealer I’ like hell, folks don’t want you to touch their makeup

The whistle blows, and I prepare my tea as Ielse but that night

“HOW ARE YOU?”

I glance atas I push the pickled beets and lettuce together then take a bite I chely to gain more time before I speak Always intuitive, ood at reading people, especially if they’re family

“If you say fine, I’s her fork at me

I s and sigh “I don’t kno to answer that I mean I’m not physically harht just yet It’s changed the filter I see the world through I’ll never be able to go back totally I hope in time I won’t be so jaded”